# Vanessa Fernandes

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Portuguese triathlete (born 1985)

In this [Portuguese name](/source/Portuguese_name), the first or maternal [family name](/source/Surname) is *Sousa* and the second or paternal family name is *Fernandes*.

GOIH, OM Vanessa Fernandes Fernandes at the 2008 Summer Olympics Personal information Nationality Portuguese Born (1985-09-14) 14 September 1985 (age 40) Perosinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal Height 169 cm (5 ft 7 in) Weight 55 kg (121 lb) Sport Country Portugal Sport Triathlon Club Benfica

Fernandes finishing second in Lausanne 2006

Fernandes (left), silver medalist at the [2008 Summer Olympics](/source/2008_Summer_Olympics)

**Vanessa de Sousa Fernandes** [GOIH](/source/Order_of_Prince_Henry) [ComM OM](/source/Order_of_Merit_(Portugal)) (Portuguese pronunciation: [\[vɐˈnɛsɐ fɨɾˈnɐ̃dɨʃ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Portuguese); born 14 September 1985) is a Portuguese athlete who is a former [triathlon](/source/Triathlon) European and world champion, and an [Olympic medalist](/source/Olympic_medal).[1] In [duathlon](/source/Duathlon), she was also European and world champion.

Fernandes won the European Triathlon Championships five consecutive years (5 elite and 3 under-23 titles), beginning in 2004, and on 1 September 2007, she became world champion for the first time, in [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), Germany, managing to grab the only title (apart from the Olympic sceptre) missing from her career. She competes for [S.L. Benfica](/source/S.L._Benfica) since 2005.

## Career

Born in [Perosinho](/source/Perosinho), [Vila Nova de Gaia](/source/Vila_Nova_de_Gaia), Fernandes was introduced to triathlon in 1999, when she was fourteen, by her father, [Venceslau Fernandes](/source/Venceslau_Fernandes), a former professional cyclist and winner of the 1984 [Volta a Portugal](/source/Volta_a_Portugal). She competed for her local triathlon club Clube de Perosinho and then for [Belenenses](/source/C.F._Os_Belenenses) where she became world champion of under-23. Later in 2005, Fernandes joined [S.L. Benfica](/source/S.L._Benfica_(athletics)) and represents the club to this day. Occasionally, she enters [cross country](/source/Cross_country_running) events. She competed at the [Olympic Games](/source/Olympic_Games) for the first time in [2004](/source/2004_Summer_Olympics). On the [second Olympic triathlon competition](/source/Triathlon_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics), at age eighteen, she finished in eighth place with a total time of 2:06:15.39.

In June 2006, Fernandes won the [International Triathlon Union](/source/International_Triathlon_Union) World Cup, ranking number one in the world.[2] In September, she equaled Australian [Emma Carney](/source/Emma_Carney)'s record number of consecutive wins in the World Cup, with a twelfth victory at the [Beijing](/source/Beijing) leg. Later that year, she was awarded with the "Best Female Athlete of the Year" prize from CNID (*Clube Nacional de Imprensa Desportiva*; English: Sports Press National Club) at its annual sports gala. In 2008, she won her 5th-in-a-row Elite European Championships title, at "home", in [Lisbon](/source/Lisbon), Portugal.

In August 2008, she finished second in the [Beijing Olympic Games](/source/2008_Summer_Olympics), winning her first olympic medal.

After years without competing, Fernandes is training with the [2016 Summer Olympics](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics) in mind.[3]

## Achievements

**2001**

- 18th – European Championships ([Carlsbad](/source/Karlovy_Vary), [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic)) – junior

- 2nd – European Duathlon Championships ([Mafra](/source/Mafra%2C_Portugal), Portugal) – junior (team)

**2002**

- World Cup: - 34th ([Tiszaújváros](/source/Tisza%C3%BAjv%C3%A1ros), Hungary) - 29th ([Nice](/source/Nice), France) - 12th ([Funchal](/source/Funchal), Portugal)

- 4th – World Championships ([Cancún](/source/Canc%C3%BAn), Mexico) – junior

- 3rd – European Championships ([Győr](/source/Gy%C5%91r), Hungary) – junior

- 3rd – European Duathlon Championships ([Zeitz](/source/Zeitz), Germany) – junior

**2003**

- World Cup: - 10th ([Ishigaki](/source/Ishigaki%2C_Okinawa), Japan) - 9th ([St. Anthonys](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St._Anthonys&action=edit&redlink=1), United States) - **1st** ([Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain) - 9th ([Funchal](/source/Funchal), Portugal) - **1st** ([Cancún](/source/Canc%C3%BAn), Mexico) - 3rd ([Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro), [Brazil](/source/Brazil))

- **1st** – Estoril International Triathlon ([Estoril](/source/Estoril), Portugal)

- 2nd – Praia da Vitória International Triathlon ([Praia da Vitória](/source/Praia_da_Vit%C3%B3ria), Portugal)

- 5th – World Summer Games ([Santos](/source/Santos_(S%C3%A3o_Paulo)), [Brazil](/source/Brazil))

- European Championships ([Carlsbad](/source/Karlovy_Vary), [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic)): - **1st** – junior - 2nd – junior (team)

- 3rd – World Championships ([Queenstown, New Zealand](/source/Queenstown%2C_New_Zealand)) – junior

- **1st** – World Duathlon Championships ([Affoltern](/source/Affoltern_am_Albis), Switzerland) – junior

**2004**

- **1st** – Portugal National Championships

- World Cup: - **1st** ([Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain) - **1st** ([Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro), [Brazil](/source/Brazil))

- 5th – World Championships ([Funchal](/source/Funchal), Portugal)

- 8th – [Olympic Games](/source/2004_Summer_Olympics) ([Athens](/source/Athens), Greece)

- **1st** – European Under-23 Championships ([Tiszaújváros](/source/Tisza%C3%BAjv%C3%A1ros), Hungary)

- **1st** – European Championships ([Valencia](/source/Valencia_(city_in_Spain)), Spain)

**2005**

- **1st** – European Under-23 Championships ([Sofia](/source/Sofia), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria))

- **1st** – European Championships ([Lausanne](/source/Lausanne), Switzerland)

- 4th – World Championships ([Gamagori](/source/Gamagori), Japan)

- World Cup: - **1st** ([Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain) - **1st** ([Mazatlán](/source/Mazatl%C3%A1n), Mexico) - **1st** ([Beijing](/source/Beijing), China) - **1st** ([New Plymouth](/source/New_Plymouth), New Zealand)

**2006**

- World Cup: - **1st** ([Aqaba](/source/Aqaba), [Jordan](/source/Jordan)) - **1st** ([Mazatlán](/source/Mazatl%C3%A1n), Mexico) - **1st** ([Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain) - **1st** ([Corner Brook](/source/Corner_Brook), Canada) - **1st** ([Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), Germany) - **1st** ([Beijing](/source/Beijing), China)

- 3rd – Portugal Cross-Country Championships ([Guimarães](/source/Guimar%C3%A3es))

- **1st** – Portugal Triathlon Cup ([Quarteira](/source/Quarteira))

- **1st** – European Cup ([Estoril](/source/Estoril), Portugal)

- **1st** – European Championships ([Autun](/source/Autun), France)

- **1st** – European Under-23 Championships ([Rijeka](/source/Rijeka), [Croatia](/source/Croatia))

- 5th – Life Time Fitness Triathlon ([Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), United States)

- 2nd – World Championships ([Lausanne](/source/Lausanne), Switzerland)

- **1st** – [European Duathlon Championships](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2006_ITU_Duathlon_European_Championship&action=edit&redlink=1) ([Rimini](/source/Rimini), Italy)

- 6th – Corrida do Tejo ([Lisbon](/source/Lisbon), Portugal)

**2007**

- World Cup: - 3rd ([Mooloolaba](/source/Mooloolaba), Australia) - **1st** ([Ishigaki](/source/Ishigaki%2C_Okinawa), Japan) - **1st** ([Lisbon](/source/Lisbon), Portugal) - **1st** ([Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain) - **1st** ([Salford](/source/City_of_Salford), United Kingdom) - **1st** ([Beijing](/source/Beijing), China) - **1st** ([Rhodes](/source/Rhodes), Greece)

- **1st** – World Duathlon Championships ([Győr](/source/Gy%C5%91r), Hungary)

- **1st** – European Championships ([Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen), Denmark)

- **1st** - World Championships ([Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), Germany)

- **1st** – Life Time Fitness Triathlon (Minneapolis, United States)

**2008**

- [Olympic Games](/source/2008_Summer_Olympics) ([Beijing](/source/Beijing), China): - 2nd

- World Cup: - 2nd ([Mooloolaba](/source/Mooloolaba), Australia) - **1st** ([Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain)

- **1st** – European Championships ([Lisbon](/source/Lisbon), Portugal)

- 10th – World Championships ([Vancouver](/source/Vancouver), [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia), Canada)

## Orders

- Grand Officer of the [Order of Prince Henry](/source/Order_of_Prince_Henry)[4]

- Commander of the [Order of Merit](/source/Order_of_Merit_(Portugal))[5]

- Officer of the [Order of Merit](/source/Order_of_Merit_(Portugal))[4]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Vanessa Fernandes](https://web.archive.org/web/20200418010059/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/fe/vanessa-fernandes-1.html). sports-reference.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [2006 BG Triathlon World Cup rankings](https://www.triathlon.org/docs/rankings-world-cup-women.pdf?ts=1165605855).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Vanessa Fernandes: "Quero voltar a ir aos Jogos Olímpicos""](http://www.slbenfica.pt/noticias/detalhedenoticia/tabid/2788/ArticleId/38994/language/pt-PT/Vanessa-Fernandes-Quero-voltar-a-ir-a-uns-Jogos-Olimpicos.aspx) [Vanessa Fernandes: "I want to return to the Olympic Games"] (in Portuguese). [S.L. Benfica](/source/S.L._Benfica). 29 October 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-presidencia_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-presidencia_4-1) ["Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas"](http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=153) [Portuguese Honorary Orders] (in Portuguese). [Presidency of the Portuguese Republic](/source/President_of_Portugal). Retrieved 10 March 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Atletas condecorados com Ordem do Mérito](http://www.slbenfica.pt/30/news/info/Ypjva0fpK0CHujSECn0LGw?language=pt-PT) (in Portuguese)

## External links

- [International Triathlon Union (ITU) profile](https://www.triathlon.org/athletes/profile/vanessa_fernandes)

Awards Preceded by Diana Gomes Portuguese Sportswoman of the Year 2006 – 2008 Succeeded by Michelle Larcher de Brito

v t e World Triathlon – Women's Champions 1989: Erin Baker 1990: Karen Smyers 1991: Joanne Ritchie 1992: Michellie Jones 1993: Michellie Jones (2) 1994: Emma Carney 1995: Karen Smyers (2) 1996: Jackie Gallagher 1997: Emma Carney (2) 1998: Joanne King 1999: Loretta Harrop 2000: Nicole Hackett 2001: Siri Lindley 2002: Leanda Cave 2003: Emma Snowsill 2004: Sheila Taormina 2005: Emma Snowsill (2) 2006: Emma Snowsill (3) 2007: Vanessa Fernandes 2008: Helen Tucker 2009: Emma Moffatt 2010: Emma Moffatt (2) 2011: Helen Jenkins (2) 2012: Lisa Nordén 2013: Non Stanford 2014: Gwen Jorgensen 2015: Gwen Jorgensen (2) 2016: Flora Duffy 2017: Flora Duffy (2) 2018: Vicky Holland 2019: Katie Zaferes 2020: Georgia Taylor-Brown 2021: Flora Duffy (3) 2022: Flora Duffy (4) 2023: Beth Potter (men)

v t e European Champions in women's ETU Triathlon Alexandra Kremer (1985) Lieve Paulus (1986) Sarah Coope (1987) Sarah Springman (1988) Simone Mortier (1989) Thea Sybesma (1990) Isabelle Mouthon-Michellys (1991) Sonja Krolik (1992) Simone Westhoff (1993) Sonja Krolik (1994) Isabelle Mouthon-Michellys (1995) Suzanne Nielsen (1996) Natascha Badmann (1997) Wieke Hoogzaad (1998) Anja Dittmer (1999) Kathleen Smet (2000) Michelle Dillon (2001) Kathleen Smet (2002) Ana Burgos (2003) Vanessa Fernandes (2004) Vanessa Fernandes (2005) Vanessa Fernandes (2006) Vanessa Fernandes (2007) Vanessa Fernandes (2008) Nicola Spirig (2009) Nicola Spirig (2010) Emmie Charayron (2011) Nicola Spirig (2012) Rachel Klamer (2013) Nicola Spirig (2014) Nicola Spirig (2015) India Lee (2016) Jess Learmonth (2017) Nicola Spirig (2018) Beth Potter (2019) Julie Derron (2021) Non Stanford (2022) Jeanne Lehair (2023) Vicky Holland (2024) Jolien Vermeylen (2025) (men)

v t e World Triathlon Cup - Women's Champions Karen Smyers (1991) Melissa Mantak (1992) Jo-Anne Ritchie (1993) Jenny Rose (1994) Emma Carney (1995-1997) Michellie Jones (1998) Loretta Harrop (1999) Michellie Jones (2000) Siri Lindley (2001-2002) Barb Lindquist (2003) Anja Dittmer (2004) Annabel Luxford (2005) Vanessa Fernandes (2006-2007) Samantha Warriner (2008) (men)

v t e World Champions in women's ITU Duathlon Thea Sybesma (1990) Erin Baker (1991) Jenny Alcorn (1992) Carol Montgomery (1993) Irma Heeren (1994) Natascha Badmann (1995) Jackie Gallagher (1996) Irma Heeren (1997-1998) Jackie Gallagher (1999) Stephanie Forrester (2000) Erika Csomor (2001) Corine Raux (2002) Edwige Pitel (2003) Erika Csomor (2004) Michelle Dillon (2005) Catriona Morrison (2006) Vanessa Fernandes (2007-2008) Vendula Frintová (2009) Catriona Morrison (2010) Katie Hewison (2011) Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (2012) Ai Ueda (2013) Sandra Levenez (2014) Emma Pallant (2015-2016) Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (2017) Sandrina Illes (2018) (men)

Authority control databases: People World Athletics

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vanessa Fernandes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Fernandes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Fernandes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.