Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva congratulated on Monday Portuguese silver winner on triathlon Vanessa Fernandes on her medal achieved at the Olympic Games of Beijing.

Cavaco Silva said that the Fernandes' medal "reveils the extraordinary strength for the triumph which has characterized her in all her sports carrier."

"Portugal and Portuguese people are proud of having a sportswoman with the dedication and talent of Vanessa," Cavaco Silva said.

"Accept my congratulations and sincere whishes for you (Vanessa) of having a lot of personal and sports happiness," Cavaco Silva said.

The silver medal Fernandez won on Monday was the first one for Portugal at the Olympic Games competitions of Beijing.

At women's triathlon Australian Emma Snowsil won the gold medal and also Australian Emma Moffatt won bronze.

The triathlon included 1,500m swimming, a running race of six km and a cycling race of 40km.

"In my personal name and in name of all the Portuguese people I want to congratulate (Vanessa) for the result she got at the Olympic Games of Beijing," Cavaco Silva said.

Fernandes is five times European champion and world number one. She won the world championship of triathlon in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

"More than gold, it is an important medal that tastes very good," Fernandez said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2008)