# Ricardo Varela

Ricardo José Silva Varela (born September 5, 1989) is a Portuguese swimmer from Clube Naval Setubalense. He has practised swimming since he was three years old, and has been a professional swimmer for about 11 years. Varela started to swim, until the age of 8 in Clube Fluvial Vilacondense, in Vila do Conde. Since then he represents the CNS, becoming national champion, record holder and be a part of the National Team. His best stroke is breaststroke, in the distances of 50, 100 and 200 meters, and right now is a senior. He's trained by Pedro Vale (Head Coach).

## Career highlights
### 2002–2003

* Twice South Portugal Champion
* Best swimmer at Vale do Tejo Cup
* Gold Medal at TAP Meeting Internacional
* Three gold medals and one silver medal at the Region Championships
* Six Region relay titles
* National Champion and Silver medal at the National Championship

### 2003–2004

* Silver Medal at Estoril Meeting Internacional
* Five Gold medals and two Silver medals at the Region Championships
* One Gold, one Silver medal, and two bronze medals at the National Championships
* Gold Medal at TAP Meeting Internacional
* Bronze Medal in relay in the National Championships
* Three Gold medals and two Silver Medals in relay at the Region Championships

### 2004–2005

* In the National Team twice: Multinations Youth and European Youth Olympic Festival
* Bronze medal at Multinations Youth
* Silver Medal at Estoril Meeting Internacional
* Gold Medal at TAP Meeting Internacional
* Three gold medals and silver medal at the National Championships
* Two gold medals at the Region Championships
* Two gold medal and two silver medals in relay at the National Championships
* Gold Medal in relay at the Region Championships

### 2005–2006

* Three bronze medals at the Junior National Championships
(Outdated)

### 2006–2007

* Three Gold Medals at the Junior National Championships
* Gold Medal at Multinations Junior
* Tenth place and tenth second place at the European Junior Championships
* Two Silver Medals and one bronze Medal at the Summer National Championships

### 2007–2008

* Second best team at the National Clubs Championship
* Fourth best performance at 100 meters breaststroke in the 25 meter's pool
* Bronze Medal at the Winter National Championships
* Two silver medals at Loulé International Meeting
* One Silver Medal and two bronze Medals at the Summer National Championships

### 2008–2009

* National Champion and bronze medal at the Short Course Portuguese National Championships
* Seventh, Eighth and Twelfth place at the 11th Luxembourg EuroMeet
* Two Silver Medals at the 3rd Póvoa de Varzim Internacional Meeting
* Eleven place at the Spanish Open Championships

### Abstract

* South Portugal Championships: Two Gold Medals
* Region Championships: Ten Gold Medals, Three Silver Medals (Outdated)
* National Championships: Nine Gold Medals, Nine Silver Medals, Ten Bronze Medals
* Best swimmer at Vale do Tejo Cup in 2003
* Three Consecutive Gold Titles at TAP International Meeting
* Six times in the National Team
* Bronze Medal at Multinations Youth
* Gold Medal and Silver Medal in the Multinations Junior
* Tenth place and tenth second place at the European Junior Championships

## Best performances
### 25 Meters Pool

| Event | Time | Place | Year | FINA Points 2008 |
| 50 meters Breaststrokes | 28.99 | Silves, Portugal | 2007 | 770 |
| 100 meters Breaststroke | 1.00.71 | Silves, Portugal | 2009 | 864 |
| 200 meters Breaststroke | 2.14.34 | Óbidos, Portugal | 2007 | 808 |

### 50 Meters Pool

| Event | Time | Place | Year | FINA Points 2009 |
| 50 meters Breaststroke | 28.94 | Faro, Portugal | 2009 | 851 |
| 100 meters Breaststroke | 1.03.45 | Faro, Portugal | 2009 | 829 |
| 200 meters Breaststroke | 2.16.46 | Faro, Portugal | 2009 | 841 |

## Portuguese national records
### 50 Meters Pool

| Prova | Categoria | Tempo | Local | Ano | Pontos FINA 2008 | Observações |
| 100 meters Breaststroke | Infantil B | 1.13.86 | Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal | 2004 | 525 | Ainda Recorde Nacional |
(Outdated)

## National team athlete

* Mutinations Youth Meet – Madeira, Portugal
* European Youth Olympic Festival – Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
* Multinations Junior Meet – Geneva Switzerland
* European Junior Championships – Antwerp, Belgium
* 11th Luxembourg Euro-Meet – Luxembourg, Luxembourg
* Spanish Open Championships – Málaga, Spain

## Open Water

* World Cup (Setúbal) - 10 km
* Setúbal Open Water - 2,6 km
* Sesimbra Open Water - 1,5 km
* Sines Open Water - 1,5 km
* Castelo de Bode Open Water - 10 km

## Academic life
### Academic history

* College Coração de Jesus – Póvoa de Varzim (1992–1998) – (Nursery to 3rd class)
* Areias Primary School – Setúbal (1998–1999) – (4th class)
* Aranguês School – Setúbal (1998–2001) – (5th and 6th class)
* Sebastião da Gama High School (2001–2007) – (7th to 12th class)
* Universidade Técnica de Lisboa – Instituto Superior Técnico (2007–2008) – Mechanical Engineering Course
* Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal – Escola Superior de Tecnologia (2008–2012) – Mechanical Engineering Course