Filipa Martins honoured as Female Athlete of the Year in Portugal!

During the Sports Gala on Wednesday the popular gymnast’s hard work was recognised

After comfortably qualifying to the test event in Rio in April 2016 at the 2015 Glasgow World Championships, a relaxed Filipa Martins attended the Sports Gala organised by the Portuguese Confederation of Sports. Nominated in the category Female Athlete of the Year, together with surfer Ana Teresa Almeida, kayaker Francisca Lala, table tennis player Fu Yu and ice skater Mariana Souto, Martins received the most votes and received the prestigious trophy.

After the Sports Gala she told the Portuguese press: "It is very rewarding for the work I have been doing. Only last month I had the world championships and managed to establish myself for the first qualifying round for the Olympic Games".

Martins was the first Portuguese woman to qualify for an all-around final at a European Championships, placing 15^th in 2013. In 2014 she qualified for the final at World Championships, finishing 16^th. She is also a familiar face on the World Cup circuit where she won 3 medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze) in Anadia in 2014, and gold and bronze in Medellin in the same year.

In 2015 Martins won two bronze medals (bars and floor) at the World Cup event in Cottbus (GER) in March. A month later, she placed 8^th all-around at the European Championships in Montpellier (FRA) where she also was 1^st reserve for the uneven bars final.

Known for her beautiful lines and big smile, the Porto native, who is trained by Cristina Gomes at Porto Sports Club, feels appreciated by the award: "Coming here to receive an award is very rewarding. I hope to be here next year and even if I don’t win I hope to say that I had a good performance at the Games.”

Parabéns Filipa!