Francis Obikwelu celebrates the first European Championships sprint double in 28 years (© Getty Images)
The Portuguese Athletics Federation (Federação Portuguesa de Atletismo – FPA) has completed the selection of the Osaka World Championships team which includes 25 athletes.
The country’s main chances for winning a medal in Japan rest on sprinter double European champion Francis Obikwelu who is entered in both the 100 and 200 meters, Olympic silver medallist Rui Silva who won the 1500m bronze medal in Helsinki 2005, Naide Gomes, the 2006 European silver medallist in the Long Jump who recently jumped 7,01m and the young Nelson Évora, a 17.51m triple jumper.
Portugal can also count on the likes of Susana Feitor, the 2005 20km Race Walk World bronze medallist and last year’s European bronze medallist João Vieira who will compete with is twin brother Sérgio.
In the Marathon, all Portuguese athletes expect to achieve good places led by Luis Jesus (2:05:55) and Alberto Chaíça (2:09:55) who was fourth at the 2003 World Championships.
Portuguese Team
Men (15 athletes)
Francis Obikwelu: 100m (9.86), 200m (19.84)
Arnaldo Abrantes: 200m (20.74)
Rui Silva: 1500m (3:30.07)
Edivaldo Monteiro: 400m Hurdles (49.10)
Nelson Évora: Long Jump (8.10m), Triple Jump (17.51m)
João Vieira: 20km walk (1:20:09)
Sérgio Vieira: 20km walk (1:20:58)
António Pereira: 50km walk (3:52:17)
Augusto Cardoso: 50km walk (3:55:14)
Jorge Costa: 50km walk (3:55:31)
Alberto Chaíça: Marathon (2:09:25)
Luís Jesus: Marathon (2:08:55)
Hélder Ornelas: Marathon (2:10:00)
Paulo Gomes: Marathon (2:12:51)
Luís Feiteira: Marathon (2:13:37)
Women (10 athletes)
Jessica Augusto: 5000m (14:56.39)
Sara Moreira: 3000m steeple (9:42.47)
Elisabete Tavares: Pole Vault (4.32m)
Naide Gomes: Long Jump (7.01m)
Vânia Silva: Hammer (68.82m)
Sílvia Cruz: Javelin (59.74)
Susana Feitor: 20km walk (1:27:55)
Vera Santos: 20km walk (1:30:41)
Inês Henriques: 20km walk (1:30:24)
Anália Rosa: Marathon (2:32:56)
António Manuel Fernandes, for the IAAF
