Fernanda Ribeiro
Encyclopedia
Maria Fernanda Moreira Ribeiro, GCIH (fɨɾˈnɐ̃dɐ ʁiˈbɐjɾu, born June 23, 1969), is a long-distance runner, born in Penafiel
, Portugal. She achieved the top of her career in the 1996 Summer Olympics
where she won the women's 10,000 m gold medal, giving Portugal their 3rd Olympic
gold (all in the long distance), and establishing a new Olympic record - 31:01.63.
Along with her sporting career, she works at her town hall as a sports advisor to the mayor.
She is the most medalled Portuguese athlete ever, having participated in five Olympics (Seoul
1988, Barcelona
1992, Atlanta 1996, Sidney
2000, Athens
2004) and many more European
and World Championships
.
In the 2004 Olympics
, Fernanda ran the final but eventually gave up during the race due to physical problems.
She won the silver medal at the half-marathon race, during the 1st Lusophony Games
- Macau 2006, in Macao, China. She was the Portuguese flag-bearer at the Games opening ceremony, on October 7.
Ribeiro continued road running in her later years and took third place at the 2010 Lisbon Half Marathon
at the age of 40. She helped the Portuguese women's team win the title at the European Cup 10000m
in June, rounding out the country's top runners with a seventh place finish.
athlete Wang Junxia
, world record
holder and recently 5000 m Olympic champion.
But the last 200 metres were something to hold one's breath, as in a last-chance sprint, Fernanda passed dangerously her opponent from her left leaving Wang
without reaction and with a 2nd place-confirmation.
At the end of her race, Fernanda said "I had promised to fight until my very limits, I only missed finishing on my knees. From the 3rd kilometer I started feeling pain on the Achilles' tendon, managed to withstand, suffered, but I, for the dream of becoming Olympic champion, was ready to run until... death knocked me over! I just got a bit scared when I saw Wang, the turtle-blood Chinese, isolating 400m to the finish line. But that instant I wasn't defeated yet... it was when I remembered my promise to go to Fatima on foot."
In November, she pilgrimed to Fátima
as promised to thank Our Lady of Fátima
for her incredible victory.
Penafiel
Penafiel Municipality is located in Porto District in the North of Portugal.The municipal areas surrounding Penafiel City have a population of 71,801 and are made up of 38 parishes, comprising 212,82 km²....
, Portugal. She achieved the top of her career in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
where she won the women's 10,000 m gold medal, giving Portugal their 3rd Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold (all in the long distance), and establishing a new Olympic record - 31:01.63.
Biography
Fernanda made her first steps into athletics at Grupo Desportivo do Kolossal, before joining FC Porto, which she represented in 1982-1992. After a 2-year passage through Maratona Clube da Maia, Fernanda returned to FC Porto where she competed until recently.Along with her sporting career, she works at her town hall as a sports advisor to the mayor.
She is the most medalled Portuguese athlete ever, having participated in five Olympics (Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
1988, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
1992, Atlanta 1996, Sidney
Sidney
Sidney may refer to:-United States:* Sidney, Arkansas* Sidney, Illinois* Sidney, Indiana* Sidney, Iowa* Sidney, Kentucky* Sidney, Maine* Sidney, Montana* Sidney, Nebraska* Sidney , New York** Sidney , New York* Sidney, Ohio...
2000, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
2004) and many more European
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
and World Championships
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
.
In the 2004 Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Fernanda ran the final but eventually gave up during the race due to physical problems.
She won the silver medal at the half-marathon race, during the 1st Lusophony Games
2006 Lusophony Games
The 1st Lusophony Games were held in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China between 7 and 15 October 2006...
- Macau 2006, in Macao, China. She was the Portuguese flag-bearer at the Games opening ceremony, on October 7.
Ribeiro continued road running in her later years and took third place at the 2010 Lisbon Half Marathon
Lisbon Half Marathon
First held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short , excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted...
at the age of 40. She helped the Portuguese women's team win the title at the European Cup 10000m
European Cup 10000m
The European Cup 10000m is an annual 10,000 metres race for European athletes which was first held in 1997. The competition is organised by the European Athletics Association and first began as the European 10000 Metres Challenge after the event was removed from the European Cup programme...
in June, rounding out the country's top runners with a seventh place finish.
Atlanta 1996
August 2 - it was one of the most exciting finals ever in the Olympic women's 10,000 m. At the beginning of the last lap, Fernanda was 20 metres behind the ChineseChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
athlete Wang Junxia
Wang Junxia
Wang Junxia is a Chinese former long-distance runner.-Career:Wang was coached by Ma Junren until 1995 and by Mao Dezhen from 1995 to her retirement after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics....
, world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
holder and recently 5000 m Olympic champion.
But the last 200 metres were something to hold one's breath, as in a last-chance sprint, Fernanda passed dangerously her opponent from her left leaving Wang
Wang Junxia
Wang Junxia is a Chinese former long-distance runner.-Career:Wang was coached by Ma Junren until 1995 and by Mao Dezhen from 1995 to her retirement after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics....
without reaction and with a 2nd place-confirmation.
At the end of her race, Fernanda said "I had promised to fight until my very limits, I only missed finishing on my knees. From the 3rd kilometer I started feeling pain on the Achilles' tendon, managed to withstand, suffered, but I, for the dream of becoming Olympic champion, was ready to run until... death knocked me over! I just got a bit scared when I saw Wang, the turtle-blood Chinese, isolating 400m to the finish line. But that instant I wasn't defeated yet... it was when I remembered my promise to go to Fatima on foot."
In November, she pilgrimed to Fátima
Fátima, Portugal
Fátima is a city in Portugal famous for the Marian apparitions, recognized by the Catholic Church, that took place there in 1917. The town itself has a population of 7,756 and is located in the municipality of Ourém, in the Centro Region and Médio Tejo Subregion...
as promised to thank Our Lady of Fátima
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fátima is a famous title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as she appeared in apparitions reported by three shepherd children at Fátima in Portugal. These occurred on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on May 13...
for her incredible victory.
World Championships
- 2nd 3000 m, 1988 Sudbury, UK (junior)
- 10th 10.000 m1993 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 10000 metresThe women's 10,000 metres event featured at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. There were a total number of 42 participating athletes, with two qualifying heats and the final being held on 21 August 1993.-Final:-Qualifying heats:...
, 1993 Stuttgart, GER - 1st 10,000 m, 1995 Gotenburg, SWE
- 2nd 5000 m, 1995 Gotenburg, SWE
- 2nd 10000 m, 1997 Athens, GRE
- 3rd 5000 m, 1997 Athens, GRE
- 3rd 3000 m, 1997 Paris, FRA (indoor)
European Championships
- 1st 3000 m, 1988 Birmingham, UK (junior)
- 1st 10,000 m, 1994 Helsinki, FIN
- 1st 3000 m, 1994 Paris, FRA (indoor)
- 1st 3000 m, 1996 Stockholm, SWE (indoor)
- 2nd 10,000 m, 1998 Budapest, HUN
- 2nd 3000 m, 1998 Valencia, SPA (indoor)
Personal bests
- 2000 m - 5:37.88 (Lisbon, 1996)
- 2000 m - 5:37.34 (Valencia, 1996 - indoor)
- 3000 m - 8:39.49 (Stockholm, 1996 - indoor)
- 5000 m - 14:36.45 (Hechtel, 1995)
- 5000 m - 15:06.52 (Moscow, 1996 - indoor)
- 10,000 m - 30:22.88 (Sidney, 2000)
- 10,000 m - 31:01.63 (Atlanta, 1996 - Olympic)
External links
- http://www.atletas.net
- http://atletismo.no.sapo.pt/fernanda.htm