Official: Camila Rebelo strengthens Benfica

“ Camila Rebelo, one of the main figures of current Portuguese swimming, is reinforcement of the swimming team of Benfica. Back specialist, the natural athlete of Vila Nova de Poiares starts to represent the club, adding quality and experience to the embodied team ", reads in the statement published on the official site of the 'guides'.

Olympic in Paris2024, the year in which she was a 200-back European champion, the 23-year-old swimmer arrives at the Lisbon emblem “after asserting herself as a reference of the sport at the national and international level”, the club highlights.

“ We athletes have always dreamed of continuing to evolve, but there has never been, until now, an opportunity. I decided to accept it, because Benfica has excellent conditions that can help me evolve as an athlete, as a professional ", said Rebelo, quoted in the statement.

The young Portuguese swimmer already has an important international palmares, having in August won European silver on the 200 coasts and revalidated the titles in the 100 and 200 coasts at the Mediterranean Games, where she set a new record of the championships in the shortest distance.

“ In 2028, I hope I can make my second turn at the Olympic Games for Benfica. We also have European Championships and World Championships and, of course, I want to work to continue to bring the best results, no doubt”, anticipated.

The first national swimmer to become European champion highlighted her resilience, promising the Benfiquists that “will give everything to get the best place and, if possible, be the first to get to the wall”.

“Benfica is always interested in the best national swimmers representing Benfica. Camila is an example to follow by all Benfica athletes. That is our priority”, said Coach Miguel Frischknecht.

Rebelo joins Diogo Ribeiro, world champion of the 50 and 100 meters moth in 2024, and Miguel Nascimento, two swimmers who accompanied her in Paris2024, and also the Olympic Diana Durães.

Before announcing the move to Benfica, the young swimmer had quit, in a social media publication, of her usual club, Louzan Swimming, with a long text accompanied by images of her since she was little.

“There are places that are much more than places. They're home. And Louzan Swimming will forever be one of them. Today I say goodbye with a full heart. Full of gratitude, pride and memories that I'll carry with me forever. This is where I grew up. It was here that I learned to fight, to fall, to get up and to believe that I could always get more ", highlighted.

It was at Lousã’s club that Rebelo graduated as an athlete, but “above everything as a person”.

“ I've decided to take a new opportunity, but I'm sure everything I've lived in Louzan will go with me. And even though I move on, part of me will always be here. Because changing paths doesn't mean forgetting where I came from. I am very proud to say that I was born and grew up in Louzan Swimming”, he wrote.