“The main objective is reach the finals of the World Aquatics Championships, to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games”, stated the Portuguese coach, Sylvia Hernandez.

The 2024 World Aquatics Championships will take place in Doha, Quatar, started on February 2 and will run until February 18, athletes Cheila Vieira and Maria Beatriz Gonçalves will be the first Portuguese women to enter the competition, in the technical duet and free duet qualifiers.

Regarding the Paris Olympic Games, Sylvia Hernandez recognises that qualifying has become more difficult due to the reduction in the number of duets allowed to compete, from 24 to 18.

Miguel Miranda, acting president of the Federação Portuguesa de Natação (FPN) and responsible for the category of artistic swimming, admits “the degree of difficulty has increased”, however, “the regularity” of the Portuguese duo can be an added value in the competition for a place in Paris.”

“Artistic swimming has been a big focus of the federation for the last four years and the truth is, this duet has put Portugal on the map”, said Miguel Miranda.

At the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, Cheila Vieira and Maria Beatriz Gonçalves finished in 11th place in the technical duet final, obtaining the best qualification ever in Portuguese artistic swimming, after achieving 16th place in the technical duet final in Budapest, 2022.

Portugal will be represented by a total of 15 swimmers in three of the six World Aquatics Championships categories, artistic swimming, swimming and open water swimming, who also seek a spot at the 2024 Olympics.