He keeps running every day, smiling every day, worrying every day. There is no athlete in Portugal who has made his life an apology for the community, for living with each other, for each other.
Rosa Mota never wanted to be free in the most selfish sense of the term, she always believed that her medals needed continuity, that she needed to permanently be an ethical and civic example.
There is no parallel with any of the great Portuguese athletes, no one can compare to her – our Olympic Champion, one of the greatest marathon runners in history, left competitions “seriously”, but continued to win competition after competition in the Veterans Circuit, traveling to the five continents, helping those in need, committing herself to the most varied social, cultural and even political battles.
The girl from Foz remained a girl. Tiny, smiling, overwhelming in its simplicity, but courageous and politically incorrect. Rosa Mota, along with her companion and mentor, the enormous José Pedrosa, wake up in the mornings as if they were eternal. And on the 19th, eight days from today, she will receive a doctorate from the University of Porto. Honorary Doctorate.
Rosa, the second youngest of six siblings from a proletarian family in the most bourgeois area of Porto, will receive a standing ovation from teachers and scholars from the city, the country and the world. There will be rectors, cardinals, ministers, mayors and even two presidents of two Republics. I send you my hug, dear Rosa. Next week, I won’t be able to reach you.
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