NEWS

Fernandes wins major award

By World Triathlon Admin | 03 Apr, 2007

Vanessa Fernandes was voted the 2006 Sportswoman of the Year by the people of Portugal on national television at the Portuguese Golden Globe awards last weekend. 

The Sport Lisboa e Benfica athlete competed against other top athletes including; Francis Obikwelu – European Athlete of the year by European Athletics Association –, the alpinist João Garcia – climbed the Kanchenjunga and the Shishapangma mountians– and the judo athlete Telma Monteiro – leader of the world-wide ranking and won the European Championship of Judo. Vanessa, the European triathlon champion and 2006 World Cup rankings leader, was able to walk away with the award.

At 21 years of age, the young athlete born in Perosinho, was in Campo Pequeno in Lisbon, with, among others, her father Venceslau Fernandes, to receive the Golden Globe. Vanessa didn’t forget her family support and also the triathlon family support and sent everyone a big thank you!

Vanessa Fernandes succeeds the basketball player Ticha Penincheiro as best sportswoman. The Golden Globes are an initiative of the private television SIC and the magazine Caras. Bárbara Guimarães presented the show.

Click here to learn more about Vanessa