Fernanda Ribeiro

Maria Fernanda Moreira Ribeiro, GCIH, pron. IPA2|fɨɾ'nɐ̃dɐ ʁi'bɐiɾu, (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.

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 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.

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 chinese 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 Fatima as promised to thank Our Lady of Fatima for her incredible victory.

Achievements

Olympic Games

:1st 10,000 m, 1996 Atlanta, USA:3rd 10,000 m, 2000 Sidney, AUS

World Championships

:2nd 3000 m, 1988 Sudbury, UK (junior) :10th 10.000 m, 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)

= World Cup =

:2nd 10,000 m, 1994 London, UK

= 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