Maria Fernanda Moreira Ribeiro,GCIH (Portuguese pronunciation:[fɨɾˈnɐ̃dɐʁiˈβɐjɾu]; born 23 June 1969), is along-distance runner born inPenafiel,Portugal. The pinnacle of her career was at the1996 Summer Olympics when she won the women's10000 mgold medal, establishing a newOlympic record of 31:01.63. Her victory gave Portugal its thirdOlympic gold medal.
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Ribeiro started running with Grupo Desportivo do Kolossal, before joiningFC Porto, which she represented from 1982-1992. She returned to FC Porto after two years at Maratona Clube da Maia. Along with her sports career, she has worked at her town hall as a sports adviser to the mayor.[where?]
She holds Portugal's record for mostOlympic medals.[citation needed] She has the record for most athletic medals won in Portugal, having participated in five summer Olympics (Seoul 1988,Barcelona 1992,Atlanta 1996,Sydney 2000, andAthens 2004) and many moreEuropean andWorld Championships.
Ribeiro has continued running in her later years and won third place at the 2010Lisbon Half Marathon, when she was 40 years old.[2] She helped the Portuguese women's team win the title at theEuropean Cup 10000 m in June 2010, rounding out the country's top runners with a seventh-place finish.[3]
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On 2 August 1996 Ribeiro ran in the finals of the Olympic women's 10000 m run. At the beginning of the last lap, Ribeiro was close behind theChinese athleteWang Junxia,world record holder and5000 m Olympic champion. On the backstretch, Wang opened up as much as a 10-metre gap. In the last 200 meters accelerated, Ribeiro passed her opponent on the inside just as she entered the final straightaway. Wang had no answer.
At the end of the race, Fernanda said:
In November 1996, she made apilgrimage toFátima as promised to thankOur Lady of Fátima for her incredible victory.
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| Preceded by | Olympic Medal Nobre Guedes 1994 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Flagbearer for PortugalAtlanta 1996 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Women's 5000 m Best Year Performance 1995–1996 | Succeeded by |
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European Athletics Championships champions in women's10,000 metres | |
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