Vanguard Awards: Celebrating Excellence and Inspiring New Generations

Last Friday, the Hotel Intercontinental Lisboa hosted the first Vanguard Awards, an initiative organised by Vanguard Properties that celebrated the talent, resilience and impact of Portuguese athletes. True to the project’s motto ‘celebrating excellence, inspiring generations’, the event attracted leading figures from Portuguese sport and young athletes from the international Vanguard Stars circuit, all ready to hear the stories and achievements that leave a mark on society.

The Winners

Sports Personality of the Year

Cyclist and double Olympic medallist, Iuri Leitão, was a winner in this category for his contribution to Portuguese sport, for both his competitive achievements and ability to inspire. On receiving the award, the cyclist said: ‘We have to give ourselves body and soul to sport.’ The honourable mention went to Miguel Lapido, an important figure in Portuguese tennis and paddle tennis.

Achievement

Strength and resilience distinguished the ‘Achievement’ category, where judoka Patrícia Sampaio, winner of the bronze at the Paris games, came out top. Cristina Gonçalves, a boccia athlete at the Paralympic Games, received an honourable mention, highlighting that sport is also about personal and community achievement.

Tennis Player of the Year

Portugal’s finest tennis player and currently number 33 in the ATP rankings, Nuno Borges came top in the ‘Tennis Player of the Year’ category. In the year he won his first ATP Tour title, he left a strong message for the youngsters on the Vanguard Stars circuit: ‘Fall in love with sport and carve out your path, knowing that anything is possible.’

Sports History

Portuguese football icon Pepe won the ‘Sports History’ category, for his years of leadership and dedication. Carlos Lopes, remembered for winning a gold medal at the Los Angeles Games (1984), received the honourable mention, leaving an inspirational message: ‘I always believed I could win.’

A Night of Emotions and Purpose

The gala also featured speeches by figures such as José Cardoso Botelho, CEO of Vanguard Properties, who underlined the importance of celebrating stories that inspire generations, and Tatyana Bezukladnikova, head of the Vanguard Stars programme, who highlighted sport’s impact in shaping values, such as dedication and resilience. The event also provided an opportunity to bring young athletes from the Vanguard Stars circuit into closer contact with examples of excellence in domestic sport.

The Vanguard Awards have now become an established platform for celebrating sporting achievements and stories that motivate and inspire.