Portugal competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, from 23 July to 8 August 2021. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Portuguese athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games since the nation's debut in 1912.
These were the most successful Olympic Games for Portugal as its delegation won a total of four medals, surpassing the three medals of Los Angeles 1984 and Athens 2004. For the first time ever, Portugal won at least one medal of each kind and reached the podium in more than two sports in the same Games.
Portuguese athletes further achieved the entry standards, either by qualifying time or by world ranking, in the following track and field events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):[3][4]
Key
Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
Q = Qualified for the next round
q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
Portugal entered two riders to compete in the men's Olympic road race, by virtue of their top 50 national finish (for men) in the UCI World Ranking.[7]
Following the completion of the 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, Portugal entered one rider to compete in the women's omnium based on her final individual UCI Olympic rankings.[8]
Portugal fielded a squad of three equestrian riders into the Olympic team dressage competition by finishing eighth overall and securing the last of three available berths for Group A and B at the European Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[9] MeanwhIle, one jumping rider was added to the Portuguese roster by finishing in the top two, outside the group selection, of the individual FEI Olympic Rankings for Groups B (South Western Europe).[10]
Dressage
The Portuguese dressage team was named on June 11, 2021. Carlos Pinto and Sultao Menezes have been named the travelling reserves.[11]
Portugal entered one artistic gymnast into the Olympic competition. Rio 2016 Olympian Ana Filipa Martins booked a spot in the women's individual all-around and apparatus events, by finishing last out of the twenty gymnasts eligible for qualification at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.[12]
Portugal entered one trampoline gymnast into the Olympic competition. Rio 2016 Olympian Diogo Abreu claimed an Olympic spot in the men's event at the 2021 FIG World Cup in Brescia.
Portugal qualified eight judoka (two men and six women) for each of the following weight classes at the Games. All of them, with Telma Monteiro (women's lightweight, 57 kg) leading the nation's roster at her fifth straight Olympics, were selected among the top 18 judoka of their respective weight classes based on the IJF World Ranking List of June 28, 2021.[15][16]
Portugal qualified one boat in the men's lightweight double sculls for the Games by winning the silver medal and securing the first of two berths available at the 2021 FISA European Olympic Qualification Regatta in Varese, Italy.[17]
Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
Portuguese sailors qualified one boat in each of the following classes through the 2018 Sailing World Championships, the class-associated Worlds, and the continental regattas.[18]
Portuguese shooters achieved quota places for the following events by virtue of their best finishes at the 2018 ISSF World Championships, the 2019 ISSF World Cup series, European Championships or Games, and European Qualifying Tournament, as long as they obtained a minimum qualifying score (MQS) by May 31, 2020.[19]
Portugal entered one skateboarder into the Olympic competition. Gustavo Ribeiro booked a spot in the men's street as one of the top 16 skateboarders vying for qualification in the Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings on 30 June 2021.[20]
Portuguese swimmers further achieved qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially 1 at the Olympic Selection Time (OST)):[23][24]
Portugal entered five athletes into the table tennis competition at the Games. The men's team secured a berth by advancing to the quarterfinal round of the 2020 World Olympic Qualification Event in Gondomar, permitting a maximum of two starters to compete in the men's singles tournament.[25] On the women's side, Rio 2016 Olympian Fu Yu scored an outright semifinal victory to book one of three Olympic spots available at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus.[26]Shao Jieni was automatically selected among the top ten table tennis players vying for qualification to join Yu in the same event based on the ITTF Olympic Rankings of June 1, 2021.[27]
Portugal entered two tennis players into the Olympic tournament. João Sousa (world no. 109) accepted a spare berth previously allocated by one of the original official entrants, with Pedro (world no. 108) topping the list of tennis players vying for qualification from Europe, to compete in the men's singles based on the ATP World Rankings. Additionally, they opted to play together in the men's doubles.[29]
Portugal entered three triathletes (two men and one woman) to compete at the Olympics. Two-time Olympian João Pedro Silva, Rio 2016 Olympian João José Pereira, and rookie Melanie Santos were selected among the top 26 triathletes vying for qualification in their respective events based on the individual ITU World Rankings of 15 June 2021.[30]
