Carlos Lopes

Carlos Alberto de Sousa Lopes CGIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkaɾluʒ ˈlɔpɨʃ], born 18 February 1947) is a Portuguese former long-distance runner and world-record holder in the marathon. He won the marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming Portugal's first Olympic gold medalist, the oldest ever Olympic marathon winner at the age of 37, and setting an Olympic record for the event which stood for 24 years. On 20 April 1985, Lopes set the men's marathon world record at 2:07:12 at the Rotterdam Marathon. At club level, he competed for Sporting CP. Quotes “I was surprised to win. I thought I would finish no higher than fifth. My previous highest position at the World Cross Country Championships was 24th [in 1973].” “As I watched my elbow go through the windshield, I thought, ‘There goes the Olympics’. “I was lucky not to be seriously injured.” "I receive this with pleasure and joy. It is recognition of several years dedicated to sport with soul, heart and demeanor. I think people recognize these values ​​and principles. As I had some influence in projecting the sport to the highest level, these moments are always an honor. It is recognition of several years of sacrifice and, above all, tremendous courage and belief that I was going to be an Olympic champion. It was worth it," "Naturally. Especially since it was a historic milestone, not only for me but also for the country. People were actually glued to the television for hours to watch that finale, achieved with great simplicity, but also as a result of a lot of hard work and sacrifice, although always with enormous pleasure, because I was doing what I loved... especially escaping from others!" "It's always difficult, of course. But everything happened at that time because it was prepared for it to be that way. I studied the race well and prepared for it very carefully. That's where it was supposed to happen... until then it was about controlling the race and hoping that nothing bad, or less positive, could happen. On the other hand, I never suffered while running. I always ran for pleasure. The marathon at those Games must have been one of the races that cost me the least, because I was really well prepared, very motivated, and above all I went there with a very strong determination to be Olympic Champion." "It wasn't part of the preparation, but it was part of the strategy. I have to be honest and tell you that, in those Nationals, I would have always lost, it just wouldn't have been by such a large margin, because the preparation was aimed at the World Championship. The race I ran, that was more to give the impression that I was in bad shape, that I wouldn't be a contender weeks later, so as not to be pressured by the press and not to put too much of my opponents' attention on me. It worked! Although I was an athlete who always had very high self-esteem, I also knew how to bluff a little when necessary..." External links Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Marathon runners Category:Olympic gold medalists Category:World record holders Category:Sportspeople from Portugal