Cape Verde competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics which were held in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012.[1]
The country's participation at London marked its fifth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1996.[1] The delegation included Ruben Sança, a long-distance runner; Lidiane Lopes, a sprinter; and Adysângela Moniz, a judoka. Moniz and Sança were also selected as the flag bearers for the opening and closing ceremonies respectively.[2] Of the three Cape Verdean athletes, only Moniz progressed further than the first round.[3][4]
Background
Cape Verde participated in five Summer Olympic games between its debut in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, US and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[1] The highest number of Cape Verdean athletes participating in a summer games is three[1] in the 1996 games in Atlanta, US, the 2004 games in Athens, Greece and in the 2012 games in London.[5][6][7] No Cape Verdean athlete has ever won a medal at the Olympics.[1] Three athletes from Cape Verde were selected to compete in the London games; Ruben Sança in the track and field 5000 m, Lidiane Lopes in the track and field 100 m and Adysângela Moniz in the judo +78kg.[3][4]
Cape Verde was represented by one male athlete at the 2012 Olympics in athletics – Ruben Sança, a 5000 metres runner.[3] Making his Olympic debut at these Games, Sança was given a university place after previously competing in the marathon at the 2011 World Championships[8] and the 1500 meters at the 2009 Lusophony Games.[9] He competed on 8 August in the 5000 metres event,[10] finishing last out of 21 athletes in heat two in a time of 14 minutes and 35.19 seconds.[10] He was 1 minute and 20.04 seconds behind the winner of his heat, Dejen Gebremeskel. Overall he finished 40th out of 43 athletes,[a] and he was 1 minute and 13.98 seconds slower than the slowest athlete that progressed to the final round and, therefore, that was the end of his competition.[10]
Competing at her first Olympics,[11]Lidiane Lopes was the youngest ever competitor for Cape Verde at the Olympics, aged 17.[1] She competed in the 100 meters on 3 August.[12] Lopes was drawn into heat four[12] and ran a time of 12.72 seconds and finished fourth in her preliminary heat, 1.12 seconds behind the winner, Toea Wisil.[12] She finished 17th out of 33 athletes overall and was 0.48 seconds behind the slowest athlete who progressed to the heats.[13] Therefore, Lopes did not progress to the heats.[13]
Key
Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
Q = Qualified for the next round
q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
Cape Verde had one judoka competing in the 2012 Olympics.[4] This woman was Adysângela Moniz,[4] a 25-year-old athlete,[14] competing at her first Olympic Games.[14] She competed in the +78kg event. Moniz received a bye in the first round and fought in match four against Idalys Ortíz from Cuba in the second round.[15][16] Moniz lost and therefore did not progress to the quarter-finals.[16]
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