NOVA University Lisbon won first place overall at the CNU, held in Aveiro at the end of October – a triumph marking an unprecedented moment for NOVA. The university stood out not only for its result, but also for the participation of the first Olympic medallist to compete in the competition. This athlete is Patrícia Sampaio, a student at NOVA’s Faculty of Social and Human Sciences (NOVA FCSH) who won the gold medal in the +78 kg category.
In total, the NOVA team won seven medals: alongside Patrícia Sampaio’s gold medal, NOVA won three silver and three bronze medals, showcasing the collective strength that secured victory.
The other NOVA medallists were Matilde Gonçalves (under 48 kg, NOVA FCM), António Almeida (under 81 kg, NOVA FCT), Pedro Cavaco (under 90 kg, NOVA FCT), Marta Loureiro (under 63 kg, NOVA SBE), Diogo Caetano (under 73 kg, NOVA SBE) and Nazar Nynyk (under 66 kg, NOVA SBE).
The team also included Carolina Sacavém (NOVA School of Law), Duarte Cabral (NOVA FCT), Francisco Pereira (NOVA IMS), and Nuno Távora (NOVA FCT), reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the academic community.
This achievement reflects NOVA University Lisbon’s commitment to university sports and supporting high-achieving students and promotes a balance between academic excellence and sport.
The competition, organised by FADU Portugal, the Academic Association of the University of Aveiro and the University of Aveiro, saw record participation: A total of 125 student-athletes competed, representing 39 clubs.