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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Classification
T13, F13
Further personal information
Occupation
Athlete, Business Owner
Languages
English, Portuguese
Higher education
Business Administration, Management, Tourism - University Institute of Lisbon: Portugal
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up the sport in around 2004 with the Belenenses club in Lisbon, Portugal.
Why this sport?
She was originally involved in swimming as a child before switching to judo and tennis at age nine. At age 12 she was taking part in volleyball, horse riding and football. Then she was inspired to take up athletics after watching Portuguese sprinter Francis Obikwelu win silver in the 100m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens on television.
Club / Team
Club Sport Maritimo: Funchal, POR
Name of coach
Chris Zah [personal], GBR
General interest
Nicknames
Cuca (scml.pt, 13 Apr 2018)
Awards and honours
In 2019 she received a Stromp Award in Lisbon, Portugal. (sporting.pt, 03 Dec 2019)
Other sports
She competed in able-bodied athletics [women's 4x400m relay] at the 2012 European Championships in Helsinki, Finland. (record.pt, 05 Sep 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2012)
Ambitions
To win a medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (record.pt, 11 Jul 2017)
Impairment
She has retinopathy and macular dystrophy. Her vision began to deteriorate seriously at age 18, and is about 10%. (record.pt, 05 Sep 2016; publico.pt, 04 Sep 2016)
Other information
BUSINESS
She runs a business called 'Catos da Cuca' [Cuca's Cactus] in Lisbon, Portugal. She sells cactus arrangements and mini-gardens. (Instagram profile, 18 Jun 2020; Catos da Cuca Instagram profile, 17 Feb 2021)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as president of the Portuguese Paralympic Athletes' Commission. (LinkedIn profile, 01 May 2017)
She runs a business called 'Catos da Cuca' [Cuca's Cactus] in Lisbon, Portugal. She sells cactus arrangements and mini-gardens. (Instagram profile, 18 Jun 2020; Catos da Cuca Instagram profile, 17 Feb 2021)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as president of the Portuguese Paralympic Athletes' Commission. (LinkedIn profile, 01 May 2017)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T13 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-10 | 3 | |
| Women's 100 m T13 | Final Round | 2016-09-11 | 6 | |
| Women's 400 m T13 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T13 | Final 1 | 2017-07-17 | 4 | |
| Women's 400 m T13 | Final 1 | 2017-07-19 | 3 |