The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once observed, ‘What does not destroy me, makes me stronger’. Norberto Mourão is the physical embodiment of this maxim. After suffering a horrific motorcycle accident where he lost both of his legs, he made a vow to return to his normal life, but also to set himself a new challenge.
Fifteen years later, Norberto is a two-time Paralympic athlete and current paracanoe European Champion. Sports editor David Lugg spoke to Norberto about the highs and lows of his career to date.
Norberto Mourão was born in Quintelas, a small village in the northeast of Portugal but moved to Lisbon at the age of three. After spending over 30 years in the capital, he met his partner and moved to the Algarve, a region that he says makes him happy. “I have a better quality of life and the weather is excellent,” he notes.
A better quality of life is the least Norberto deserves after the horrific accident in September 2009 that left him in a wheelchair. Though he admits that his life changed radically, he has certainly not let the accident define who he is. “I set myself goals. I knew I needed to strengthen my arms. That’s when I looked for a sport and I came across canoeing. I tried it and I loved it and joined a competition group straight away.”
Ambition is one thing, but determination is another. Norberto has both qualities in abundance and, within a few short years, was representing his country at paracanoeing in the KL2 200-metre discipline. His hard work and dedication have seen him become a two-time European Champion, and silver and bronze (twice) medalist at the World Championships. His legacy doesn’t end there – at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, he won the bronze medal, an experience he describes as “different”.
“Achieving the medal was very good, but socialising was minimal because of the fear of COVID. There was no freedom. The stands were empty.” Fast forward to 2024 and Norberto again represented Portugal at the Paris Paralympic Games. After taking the lead early in the race, he eventually finished in fourth position. “It was undoubtedly the event in which I was able to enjoy myself the most and live the Paralympic spirit to the full.”
One of the enduring images of the Paralympic Games was an image of Norberto embracing his son after the race. The emotion was clear to see. “Having my family present was the best thing about these Paralympic Games. Hugging my son at the end of the race was magical. I really wanted to get the medal so he would have a more visible souvenir. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible, but it was the only thing missing. Everything else was marvellous.”
He may have missed out on a second Paralympic medal, but there was no feeling of bitterness. “I knew it would be very difficult to win medals. I’m one of the oldest athletes and a few months earlier, I had come fourth in the World Championships. It’s the most thankless place, but I came out of it satisfied because I gave everything I had and did an excellent time.” Indeed, his time was a personal best and that is what the Olympic spirit is all about.
Faced with adversity, Norberto has been a credit to the sport and a credit to his country. But much more than that, his attitude to life is an inspiration. He has achieved more with a disability than most of us would even dream of. Not that his path has been straightforward. His excellent YouTube channel features a video about the loneliness of being a professional athlete, a darker side that is rarely brought to the attention of the public. “We have a lot of training camps throughout the season, too many weeks away from the family. As the years go by, it gets harder. It’s at those times that we feel alone. We feel what loneliness is. Often, the results end up being worse because we’re not doing well in that respect. It’s essential to have a total balance.”
Now he is 44, you might forgive Norberto for slowing down a little, but he is doing nothing of the sort. He races regularly for the Kayak Club Castores do Arade near Estômbar and has a full calendar of events to look forward to in 2025. “I want to defend my European title and I’m going to the World Championships and the World Cup. I’m also going to do marathon races where, instead of doing 200 metres, I’m going to do 12 kilometres.”
As long as the determination and ambition are there, then there is nothing to stop Norberto Mourão. He has found a happy place here in the Algarve with a loving family by his side. We must wish him well as he sets out on yet another extraordinary year. “It’s going to be a great season,” he explains. “I’m going to do my utmost to represent Portugal in the best possible way.” Of that, there is no doubt.
