Benfica and Vanessa Fernandes renewed contract until 2021

Vanessa Fernandes renewed her contract with Sport Lisboa e Benfica for another four years, in other words, until 2021. The 32-year-old athlete, who represents the athletics team of the Club, returned to competition this year and she claims to be happy to continue with an eagle upon her chest, because Benfica has always believed in her.

“I have always had a lot of confidence at Benfica, there were years of a great connection. I see Benfica as a family and I know I can rely on them, and that is something fundamental sometimes some athletes don't get to have and I have the privilege, so I grateful for all these years”, confessed Vanessa Fernandes to the Press.

With respect to her future objectives, the athlete is clear: she is going to focused on the triathlon.

“Now my focused is on the triathlon in the various distances, the Olympic distance, the sprint or the half distance. Now Benfica also participates in those distances with me, so any event I might go abroad, I will go the Benfica kit. This is something Benfica is getting involved in and that is very good for me”, highlighted the athlete.

"Vanessa was, is and will always be connected to Benfica”

“A Vanessa is an athlete that need no introductions. Recently we both had the opportunity to live a unique moment in the history of Benfica, with the victory in the Triathlon Mixed Relays Club European Championships, together with Miguel Arraiolos, João Pereira, with Melani, a Vera Vilaça as substitute and with the coach João Mascarenhas. There were extraordinary moments and so with count on Vanessa for the next four years and in the Olympic Tour to continue making what she has been doing so far”, said the vice president Fernando Tavares

“I think Vanessa is in hot form, knowing what she wants to do with her sporting life and so for Benfica it is a great honor to be able to close this contract. I would say that, from the other sports of Benfica point of view, it would be unthinkable to think about the life of Benfica nowadays without Vanessa. Vanessa will always have Benfica's and my unconditional support”, he stressed.

Text: Márcia Dores

Pics: Tânia Paulo / SL Benfica