The race walker João Vieira is one Rio Maior’s athlete participating in the 2012 London Olympic Games, competing in the 20 and 50 Kms race.
João has an impressive curriculum with two bronze medals from European Championships. The first in Gothenburg (2006) and the second in Barcelona (2010). The athlete participated in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and in Athens in 2004, where he was 10th.
In a video interview to our website, João spoke of this third participation in the Olympic Games, "the participation in the games is for any athlete the highest point of four years hard work.”
He also spoke about his preparation in the Rio Maior Sports Centre: “the sports complex has excellent conditions for any athlete of any sports. Me, as this city’s son, make a big part of my preparation here, because it has great conditions for my physical preparation.”