Portugal competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. Portuguese athletes have competed at every Summer Olympic Games in the modern era since 1912. The Olympic Committee of Portugal sent the nation's second-largest team to the Games. A total of 81 athletes, 64 men and 17 women, were selected by the committee to participate in 15 sports. Men's football was the only team-based sport in which Portugal had its representation at these Games. There was only a single competitor in badminton, canoeing, equestrian, artistic and trampoline gymnastics, triathlon, and wrestling, which made its official Olympic comeback after an eight-year absence. Twenty-four Portuguese athletes had previously competed in Sydney, including two returning Olympic medalists: long-distance runner and former champion Fernanda Ribeiro and lightweight judoka Nuno Delgado, who later became the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony. Mistral windsurfer and multiple-time European championJoão Rodrigues and middle-distance runnerCarla Sacramento shared their experiences at these Games as the only athletes who made their fourth Olympic appearance. Equestrian rider Carlos Grave, aged 46, was the oldest athlete of the team, while breaststroke swimmer Diana Gomes was the youngest at age 15. Among the Portuguese athletes of the team, two of them had acquired a dual citizenship to compete for Portugal: former hurdler Naide Gomes from São Tomé and Príncipe in the women's heptathlon, and sprinter Francis Obikwelu on his third Olympic bid after he previously joined the Nigerian squad in Atlanta and Sydney. Portugal left Athens with only three Olympic medals, two silver and one bronze, improving the nation's stark medal tally from Sydney four years earlier. The highlight of the Games for the Portuguese team came on the first day with a historic milestone for Sérgio Paulinho, as the nation's first ever cyclist to claim a silver medal in the men's road race. The remaining medals were awarded to the athletes in the track and field. On August 22, 2004, Obikwelu challenged the Americans in the men's 100 metres, but he managed to settle only for the silver. Meanwhile, Rui Silva added another medal for Portugal with a blistering bronze in the men's 1500 metres, which was dominated by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj.
Medalists
Medal
Name
Sport
Event
Date
Athletics
Men's 100 m
Cycling
Men's road race
Athletics
Men's 1500 m
Athletics
Portuguese athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events. ;Men ;Track & road events ;Field events ;Women ;Track & road events ;Field events ;Combined events – Heptathlon
Athlete
Event
200 m
800 m
Final
Rank
Naide Gomes
Result
13.58
1.85
14.71
25.46
6.10
40.75
2:20.05
6151
13
Naide Gomes
Points
1039
1041
841
845
880
682
823
6151
13
Badminton
Canoeing
Sprint
Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify to final; q = Qualify to semifinal
Cycling
Road
Equestrian
Eventing
Fencing
;Men
Football
Men's tournament
;Roster ;Group play ---- ----
Gymnastics
Artistic
;Men
Trampoline
Judo
Four Portuguese judoka qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics. ;Men ;Women
Sailing
Portuguese sailors have qualified one boat for each of the following events. ;Men ;Women ;Open M = Medal race; OCS = On course side of the starting line; DSQ = Disqualified; DNF = Did not finish; DNS= Did not start; RDG = Redress given
Shooting
Two Portuguese shooters qualified to compete in the following events: ;Men
Swimming
Portuguese swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events : ;Men ;Women
