Three participations, constant evolution
At the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Benfica’s Diogo Madeira competed in the Olympic Games for the third time and was the captain of the Portuguese swimming team.
Pennant regarding Portugal's participation in the Atlanta Olympic Games
1996
National Museum of Sport collection
In his Olympic debut, in Seoul 1988, he achieved two 26th places in the 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle events,
and a 28th place in 200m freestyle. Four years later, in Barcelona, he achieved the 29th place in the 200m
butterfly and the 33rd in 200m strokes.
In Atlanta, in the 200m butterfly, Diogo Madeira had his last participation in the Olympic Games. The
25-year-old swimmer achieved the 3rd place in his heat with a mark of 2min01.58s and the 25th place overall.
Diogo Madeira
It was his best classification ever and Diogo was satisfied about it: “I did not have a great triumph, but I can’t be upset about my race. I gave my best and I think that... it was good. […] In the three Olympic Games I always managed to improve my time in the distance. I’m happy.”
Diogo Madeira
Other Highlights
Participation of Benfica Athletes in the Olympic Games
Olympic Football - First participation of Benfica athletes in the Olympic Games
1928
Manuel Dias - A marathon with obstacles
1936
Luís Howorth -
Benfica’s first and only participation in shooting
1952
Athletes quartet
- Casimiro, Eleutério, Matos Fernandes, and Paquete
1952
Alexandre Yokochi - Expectations exceeded in swimming debut
1984
António Leitão
- Bronze medal
1984
High hopes for young stars
- High moment of the “red” swimming
1988
Uchenna Emedolou
- Second "red" bronze medal
2004
Nelson Évora
- First gold!
2008
Vanessa Fernandes
- Silver that feels like gold
2008
Athletics
- A handful of good performances
2016
Telma Monteiro
- The medal she fought so hard for
2016
