Portugal at The 1996 Summer Olympics

Portugal At The 1996 Summer Olympics

Portugal competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.

A delegation with a record number of 107 competitors (83 men and 24 women) participated in 79 events in 18 sports. Two medals were won this time, one of them being Portugal's third Olympic gold, thanks to Fernanda Ribeiro's surprising victory in the women's 10000m over the 5000m Olympic champion Wang Junxia. This third Olympic title in the athletics reinforced Portugal's strength in this sport and in particular the long-distance endurance events. A bronze was achieved by the 470 class male team, reviving a successful sailing tradition in this nation's Olympic delegations.

In Atlanta, Portugal debuted in cycling, women's sailing classes, slalom canoeing and in newly promoted beach volleyball, almost grabbing a bronze medal in the latter, on its first participation. In their second appearance, the tennis male team succumbed yet again on the first round to a bahamese team. After 68 years, Portugal sent a football team to the Olympics and, in the end, it repeated Amsterdam's fourth place.