Historical record from Portugal in the Mediterranean Games: 32 medals from Taranto

Portugal completed the 2026 Mediterranean Games held in Taranto, Italy, with a total of 32 medals, including 16 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze. Portugal won 24 medals in its first participation in 2018 and 25 in 2022, thus reaching its best finish in the organization.

The rise of Portuguese sports in the Mediterranean Games turned into a new record in Taranto.

Portuguese athletes reached the podium 32 times in total at the games held in Italy between 21 August and 3 September. One of the highlights of the performance in Taranto was that exactly half of the medals were gold.

According to the final results announced by the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP), the country completed the organization with 16 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze medals.

This result surpassed Portugal's previous two participations in the Mediterranean Games. Portugal, which won 24 medals in Tarragona 2018, increased the total to 25 in Oran 2022. The 32 medals in Taranto means seven medals better than the previous record.

The change in the number of gold medals is more evident. While Portugal won three golds in 2018, they increased this number to 16 in Taranto.

Medals came from many different branches

One of the important features of the success in Taranto was the spread of medals across different sports.

While athletics was the branch in which Portugal reached the podium the most with nine medals, swimming followed with seven medals. Canoeing, cycling, fencing and speed skating were among the branches in which Portugal won medals.

Portuguese athletes also appeared on the podium in football, judo, karate, padel and rowing.

In athletics, Omar Elkhatib won the gold medal in the men's 400 meters by breaking the Mediterranean Games record with a time of 44.92 seconds. With this result, Elkhatib became the second Portuguese athlete to run 400 meters in under 45 seconds.

José Carlos Pinto, Auriol Dongmo, Irina Rodrigues and Patrícia Silva were among the Portuguese names who won the gold medal in athletics.

In the women's shot put, Portugal took the first two steps of the podium simultaneously: Auriol Dongmo won gold and Jéssica Inchude won silver.

Historical gold in women's football

One of Portugal's historic results in Taranto came from women's football.

Portugal Under-18 Women's National Team won the gold medal by defeating the host Italy 4-0 in the final. This result also became Portugal's first medal in football at the Mediterranean Games.

There was also a first in karate.

Ana Rita Oliveira won the gold medal in the women's +68 kg kumite category, bringing Portugal its first medal in karate in the history of the Mediterranean Games.

Oliveira and 400 meters champion Omar Elkhatib were chosen by the Portuguese Olympic Committee to carry the country's flag at the closing ceremony.

Four medals in canoeing

Portugal also had a strong performance in canoeing.

Bruno Brasileiro won the gold medal in the K1 1000 meters and Ana Brito won the gold medal in the K1 500 meters.

André Moreira-Iago Bebiano duo won the silver medal in the K2 500 meters and Tiago Maciel won the silver medal in the C1 1000 meters.

Thus, Portugal completed the canoe competitions with four medals, two gold and two silver.

Portugal's Taranto 2026 balance sheet

Portugal's medal distribution was as follows:

🥇 16 gold coins

🥈 7 silver

🥉 9 bronze

Total: 32 medals

Mariana Machado took part in Portugal's last sporting challenge in the games. Machado, who had previously won a silver medal in the 10 thousand meters, completed the half marathon in fifth place.

While Portugal's sports program in Taranto ended with this race, 32 podiums were recorded as the country's new record in the history of the Mediterranean Games.

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE

Taranto 2026 was held in Italy between 21 August and 3 September as the 20th organization of the Mediterranean Games.

According to IPDJ data, 3,854 athletes from 26 countries participated in the organization. Portugal was represented by a delegation of 172 athletes competing in 30 sports.

Portugal participated in the Mediterranean Games for the first time in Tarragona 2018.

REVIEWED SOURCES

Portugal Resident — Michael Bruxo, September 4, 2026: Source news forwarded to PTNewsHub; Portugal's 32-medal performance at Taranto 2026 and compilation of results by branches.

Comité Olímpico de Portugal (Portuguese Olympic Committee), 3 September 2026: Official result that Portugal completed Taranto 2026 with 32 medals, including 16 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze.

Comité Olímpico de Portugal: Official result of Omar Elkhatib breaking the Mediterranean Games record in the 400 meters with 44.92.

Comité Olímpico de Portugal: Taranto 2026 canoe results; Gold medals for Bruno Brasileiro and Ana Brito, silver medals for André Moreira-Iago Bebiano and Tiago Maciel.

Comité Olímpico de Portugal: Statement on the selection of Ana Rita Oliveira and Omar Elkhatib to carry the Portuguese flag at the closing ceremony.

Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude (IPDJ), 3 September 2026: Official statement regarding Portugal's best performance in the history of the Mediterranean Games and general participation information of the organization.

Portuguese Government, September 3, 2026: Statement that Portugal achieved the best Mediterranean Games result in its history with 32 medals.