Portuguese Olympic champion Rosa Mota, at the age of 60, crossed the line first in the Macao mini-marathon. The legendary runner completed the 5.2 km course in 22 minutes and 02 seconds, finishing ahead of all her competitors.
Mota is considered one of the most decorated Portuguese athletes in history. She won the Olympic gold medal in the marathon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and her current victory in Macao came exactly 30 years after that triumph.
An anti-doping ambassador who became a race winner
On December 2, Mota arrived at the event in her capacity as an anti-doping ambassador. The role involved public appearances and engagement with participants, not stepping up to the starting line. Taking part in the race had not originally been part of her plans.
However, finding herself free of official obligations, Mota made a spontaneous decision and registered for the course. The result spoke louder than any expectations.
«I was free and decided to run»
After finishing, Mota shared her thoughts with Lusa news agency. «I am very happy to be here in Macao, at such a well-organised event. Since I had no obligations and was free, I decided to run,» the athlete said.
Despite the impressive result, Mota deliberately steered the conversation away from her own achievements. «Today I will only speak about the importance of conveying the following message to athletes: doping is dangerous and there is no place for cheating in sport,» she emphasised.
The 37th Macao International Marathon as the event’s stage
The mini-marathon was part of the programme of the 37th Macao International Marathon, which annually brings together runners from countries around the world. The competition includes several distances, and the shorter 5.2 km race traditionally attracts both professionals and amateurs alike.
It was precisely this format that allowed Mota to take part without lengthy preparation, while still delivering a performance that surprised even the organisers.
The marathon as a tool for diversifying Macao’s economy
For Macao, hosting major sporting events has long been part of its strategy to attract tourists beyond the gambling industry. The region, known primarily for its casinos, has in recent years been actively developing cultural and sporting programmes in an effort to broaden its visitor base.
Pressure from the iGaming sector continues to grow: according to industry review sites, the number of bonus offers from online casinos has increased noticeably in recent months, pointing to the broader expansion of digital gambling. This is particularly evident against the backdrop of the rise of various no-deposit bonuses, as revealed by analysis of several industry sources. Naturally, a growing base of online casino enthusiasts means fewer visitors to land-based gambling venues.
Against this backdrop, Macao’s bet on marathons and mass races appears to be a logical step toward associating the city not only with gaming tables but also with sporting achievement. Rosa Mota’s victory in this context served as the best confirmation that the strategy is working.
The Portuguese contingent across other distances
Alongside Mota, other representatives of Portugal also competed in Macao. Their results were as follows:
• Marathon: Vera Nunes finished 6th in the women’s category, João Antunes finished 8th among the men.
• Half-marathon: António Rocha took 3rd place in the men’s category, Carla Martinho finished 3rd among the women.
The bronze finishes of Rocha and Martinho in the half-marathon confirmed the competitiveness of Portuguese athletes at Asian races. Nevertheless, the main story of the day in Macao was undoubtedly the victory of the 60-year-old Olympic champion, who took to the course almost by chance and reminded the world that true class knows no age.
