Cabo Verde will be sending two athletes to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympics starting September 7th through the 18th.  The Minister of Sports of Cabo Verde, Fernando Elisio Freire, expressed high expectations that the two athletes have a strong bid to win medals for the first time ever at the Paralympics for Cabo Verde.

 

Marcio Fernandes – “Cape Verde Wins its First Gold Medal in the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships Doha.”

Marcio Fernandes will participate in the Javelin throw. He previously won gold in the men’s javelin F44 final at the IPC Athletics World Championships at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium on October 30, 2015 in Doha, Qatar.

“Expectations are high after the world championship last year and it is normal that people want to repeat all the success. I will do my best to compete at full strength and fight to be on the podium, but everything will depend on the conditions and other opponents. I’m going to give my 200% and see the results,” said Fernandes, who’s ranked number one in the world.

Marcio was born in Portugal to Cape Verdean parents. He lost his leg in a car accident at age 10.

Gracelino Barbosa will be competing in the 400 m hurdles (category T20 — intellectual handicapped).  He placed sixth in the final of Sports World Championship, but it was enough to qualify for the bigger prize of participating in the Paralympic Games of the Rio 2016.  He is currently ranked 7th in the world.

In addition to the two athletes, Cabo Verde well send two coaches to Rio de Janeiro, both Portuguese (Carlos Fernandes and Seraphim Gadelho), a physical therapist, and the Chief and Deputy Chief of mission and the Paralympic delegation Chief, Rodrigo Bejarano, who is also President of the Cape Verdean Portuguese Paralympic Committee (COPAC).

Cabo Verde fielded five athletes this year at the 2016 Rio Olympics: Jordin Andrade (Track and Field), Maria Andrade (Taekwondo), Elyane Boal (Gymnastics – Rhythmic), Davilson Dos Santos Morais (Boxing), and Lidiane Lopes Gomes (Track and Field).