#PortugueseTriathlonFederation #FPT dreams of a medal in #Tokyo games schedule to take place July 23 to Aug 8 2021

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https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2020-07-31/triatlo-todos-por-uma-medalha-equipa-portuguesa-ambiciosa-para-os-jogos-de-toqui/855309

«Let's be ambitious, the objectives are to win a medal in Tokyo 2021». Vasco Rodrigues, president of the Portuguese Triathlon Federation (FPT) does not give up the dream, despite the pandemic, when one year is left to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games.



With the presence of athletes João Silva, João Pereira, Melanie Santos, Gabriela Ribeiro, Helena Carvalho and Filipe Marques (paratriathlon) and their coaches, the FPT announced yesterday at the headquarters of the Olympic Committee of Portugal (COP) the objectives for the Games in the capital from Japan, at the time when it also presented the new equipment of the Olympic competition, manufactured in Portugal. "The achievement of a medal, the qualification of a mixed team and the participation of the first triathlete in the Paralympic games are our objectives", assumes the leader, before the president of the COP, José Manuel Constantino, the president of the Paralympic Committee of Portugal, José Manuel Lourenço, and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, João Paulo Rebelo. When asked which of the Portuguese triathletes might aspire to take the podium, the president of the FPT pointed out the possibilities for the experienced João Pereira, fifth in Rio de Janeiro 2016, and João Silva, 9th in London 2012. “They are very experienced and are in good shape. They are similar athletes with the capacity to fight for medals. Everything will depend on the moment. » The young leader also assumes the objective of having a mixed team among the 11 teams selected for Japan. A competition that will be new, disputed with two men and two women in a short triathlon: 300 meters of swimming, 8 km by bicycle and 2 km of running.


«We have a quality team capable of guaranteeing our presence in a spot in the qualifying race in May next year», he reveals.
João Pereira confirmed the words of the president of the FPT and assumed that postponing the Games will allow him to arrive in Tokyo in good shape. «The objectives are clear for the Games - to try a medal». For the Benfica triathlete, after four years integrated in level 1 of the Olympic project "I could not aspire to another result". The European champion in Standard and Sprint distance in 2017 assumes that this period of preparation in confinement, after an injury - rupture of the hamstring muscles of the left thigh - caused by a fall in bicycle in November 2019 allowed him «to bet strongly in the swimming disciplines and cycling »since its great specialty is running.


For his part, João Silva, also from Benfica, is more restrained in his goals. «I will try to get to the Games in the best possible way and do my best trying to better manage the pressure that is to represent Portugal in the Olympic Games».
The COP president praised "the ambition of the national triathlon" for Tokyo, "its high level of results" and reiterated "the hopes that the Games will be held wishing the athletes luck."


For his part, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport recalled that the Government "increased support for Olympic preparation by 16% and by 80% for Paralympic protection, safeguarding the indispensable support for preparation for Tokyo".


The Tokyo Olympic Games are scheduled from 23 July to 8 August 2021 and the Paralympic Games from 24 August to 5 September.