Africa-Press – Cape verde. Athlete Rafaela Almeida—in the Junior Women’s category, with two gold medals and one silver—and Márcio Andrade—in the Junior Men’s category, with three gold medals and one silver—stood out among the 11 events contested across the Youth and Junior divisions.
In the Junior Women’s division, Rafaela Almeida once again demonstrated her competitive consistency.
The swimmer emphasized that the medals she won reflect the effort and daily discipline she applies in training, although she admitted that she was not at her peak physical level.
“The championship went well, even though I wasn’t in my best form. These medals mean a great deal because of the hard work and dedication I put into my training,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the Junior Men’s division, Márcio Andrade took center stage by winning three gold medals and one silver—a performance that earned him recognition as the most decorated athlete of the competition.
The young swimmer highlighted his progress over time, emphasizing that his success is the result of determination and unwavering focus.
He also acknowledged the high caliber of his competitors and the technical challenges he faced—particularly regarding turns and starts, areas where strict rules apply and where disqualification is a distinct possibility.
Notable performances were also recorded in the Youth division. Aiden Araújo distinguished himself in a specific event within his category, while Fabiana Teixeira once again solidified her standing in the Youth Women’s division, underscoring the competitive spirit among the younger athletes.
Among the recorded results, in the Women’s 50-meter breaststroke, Fabiana Teixeira took first place with a time of 1 minute, 01 seconds, and 23 hundredths. She was followed by Cláudia Siqueira, with a time of 53 seconds and 34 hundredths, and Rafaela Almeida, who completed the race in 53 seconds and 59 hundredths.
In the 100-meter freestyle, Alessandro Cardoso finished in first place with a recorded time of 1 minute, 43 seconds, and 65 hundredths. In the men’s 50-meter breaststroke (junior category), Lucas Rodrigues took first place with a time of 45.22 seconds, while Aldo Ferreira and Márcio Andrade rounded out the podium.
In the men’s 50-meter freestyle—also in the junior category—Léo Nesso won the event, followed by Márcio Andrade and Aldo Ferreira.
The competition also featured men’s and women’s 50-meter freestyle events in the youth category, as well as a mixed relay team comprising Alessandro, Micaela, and Bernald, bringing to a close a day marked by strong participation and the technical progress of the athletes.
Despite these positive results, the swimmers continue to cite financial constraints as the primary obstacle to regular participation in African competitions, emphasizing that the sport of swimming on the island of Fogo still requires greater institutional support to ensure a consistent presence in international events.
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