Attended by more than 300 participants, the 9th Portugal University Sports Gala took place on Tuesday, November 8, at Teatro Aveirense in Aveiro, in a symbolic place for the Portugal University Sports Federation. It was in 1990 in Aveiro where FADU was founded, and the mayor of the city, Mr José Ribau Esteves, was part of the first management team.  

The Portugal University Sports Gala closed the 2015/2016 season, honouring all athletes winning medals at the European Universities Games and the World University Championships, as well as the organisers of the national and international university events in Portugal. Due to the fact that 28 medals were won in international events, with nine of them gold, a lot of athletes stepped on stage.



At the night of student-athlete tribute, the prizes of the National Sports Ethics Plan (PNED) and the Jogos Santa Casa - Dual Career Award were also presented.



Regarding to the Best of the Year awards, Júlio Ferreira won Best Men's Athlete, after winning at European Universities Championship and European Universities Games in Taekwondo. Bárbara Luz won the Best Women's Athlete. She's made part of the national champion team and the European champion team. Football team from the University of Minho won the Best Male Team, due to the first place at national and European Universities Games. Rugby 7s from University of Porto won Best Female Team, with the national championship and the bronze medal at EUG 2016. Finally, the Best Coach award went to Hugo Serrão, with four gold medals at EUG 2016 and six at the national championships. FADU also decided to assign the Prestigious Award to the Portuguese Canoe Federation, for the importance of the federation at the World University Canoe Championship.



At the end of the ceremony, the president of FADU, Daniel Monteiro revealed that the former Olympic athlete and medallist at the Universiade of Tokyo in 2001, Susana Feitor, will be the head of the Portuguese mission to the Universiade of Taipei in 2017. For Daniel Monteiro, Susana Feitor is an "icon of national sport" and an important asset to student-athletes who will participate in the largest multi-sport university event in the world.



In his closing speech, Daniel Monteiro also emphasized the commitment of college institutions in sport, providing them "more resources and better resources, and creating conditions for sports agents”. For the leader of the Portugal University Sports Federation, "when there is so much talk about a generalized crisis that affects the national sports system, I believe that here exists a good solution to the problem.” For the next season, Daniel Monteiro intends to maintain "the ambition and the desire to do more, despite adversities", reaching more students, "not only for the competitive way of the National University Championships, but also strengthening recreational sport in each academy and between academies."



The 9th Portugal University Sports Gala was presented by journalist Miguel Torrão, and athlete Ercília Machado. The ceremony also included performances of the Academic Choir of the University of Minho and Aveiro School of Gymnastics.

For more information, please see www.fadu.pt.