Nearly 500 people were in the large auditorium of the Municipal Theater of Portimão (Tempo), on the 11th of October, to attend the public presentation of the Portinado teams for the new 2013/2014 sporting season.
The ceremony was attended by most of the association's athletes, many family members and some institutional representatives, namely, the local authority and the Algarve Swimming Association.
For about an hour and a half, the modalities for the new sporting season were presented, the respective athletes and coaches, competitive calendars and goals to be achieved and the many sporting events that will be held.
The «basic principles that should guide the association and all the people directly involved in the project, as well as its long-term training plan, were also presented to the public.
Triathlon resurfaces
As news for the new era, the resurgence of triathlon, which, after a few years of interregnum, is now back to be represented in national competitions.
After a decade of great achievements at national level and several representations in World Cups, European Championships and even World Championships, Portinado is now back to represent itself in competitions with a team formed by two athletes, but which will very soon grow to six .
The objectives of the triathlon will be to bet on the formation of new athletes and the development of a competitive level, with the framing of new elements.
Competitive participation will be mainly at the level of the various national sprint triathlon and long triathlon championships.
Alexandre Agostinho returns
Another novelty is the return of international swimmer Alexandre Agostinho, who after a year away from swimming pools, is now back full of “strength” to conquer new achievements for swimming in Portimo.
Pure swimming has a very large group this year, one of the biggest ever and with great prospects of achieving excellent results.
Pure swimming has as main objectives to participate in the European short pool in Denmark, next December, win the national men's title of 3rd division clubs, win several absolute national titles and some national records.
The swimming will be coached by Paulo Costa (absolute team), Hugo Amaral (juveniles and cadets), Rui Mendonça (children and masters), Pedro Correia (physical trainer), Ricardo Palma (physiotherapist/osteopath) and Alexandre Agostinho (physiotherapist and physiotherapist ).
Water Polo reforms itself
The water polo, which this season will not have representation in the 1st national division, will have Jorge Santos as the new head coach, thus replacing Rui Moreira, who is currently coaching a team in Denmark.
Jorge Santos comes from Lagoa and was a water polo player at Portinado for several years.
The water polo team, which will certainly have a decent representation in the 2nd division National Championship, will have a good group of athletes, in which Nicolay Yanochko, Cristiano Joaquim, Francisco Borralho, among others, stand out.
On the way out is Maxin, who will play for Paredes this season, playing in the 1st Division, Mário Bergano, who is studying in Porto, but who will remain active, and Daniel Grácio, for professional reasons.
The goals of the water polo are the classification up to 2nd place in the 2nd division Nacional, classification up to 3rd place in the National for male youth, participation in several national teams and even promoting exchanges with other Portuguese teams and from neighboring Spain.
Masters and Synchronized Swimming with news
The masters also have a large team this season and their goals at a competitive level are to participate in the National Winter and Summer Championships and a classification up to 8th place in the Master National.
In individual terms, it is intended that athletes can improve their technical level.
Synchronized swimming will continue to be guided by coach Sónia Teodoro, but will have Catarina Costa as assistant coach.
The team aims to participate in the Nationals of Winter and Summer, a collective classification up to 5th place in the National and participate with several athletes in the level of access competitions to competitive teams.
Its objectives are also to promote exchanges with other clubs, participation in the National Festival “Estrelas do Mar” and the participation of athletes in national teams.
Adapted swimming back
Adapted swimming will also reappear, through the swimmer João Pinto, who will very soon start participating in national competitions. João Pinto was a young swimmer in the association.
After the presentation, there was a convivial snack, to which many of the parents present contributed.
The management of Portinado makes a «special thanks» to the Tempo team, for their «excellent collaboration», as well as to the presenter and music service, Lurdes Carriçal, without forgetting the musicians Maria Pereira and João Cunha.
Photos of: Zito Sousa
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