The awarding of the distinction was justified by the Mayor, Luís Nobre, with the “magnitude of Iúri Leitão's performance” at the Paris Olympic Games and “for the notable services provided to sport and to the promotion of the city of Viana do Castelo”.
The councillors from the PSD, CDS-PP and independent Eduardo Teixeira contested the timing of the decision, invoking the regulations for the awarding of honorary titles, which always take place on 20 January each year, the day commemorating the city's charter.
In August, Iúri Leitão and Rui Oliveira were crowned Olympic champions in the madison at the Paris Olympic Games, in France, with the 26-year-old athlete, from the parish of Santa Marta de Portuzelo, in Viana do Castelo, also winning the silver medal in the omnium.
Iúri Leitão is the first Portuguese athlete to win two medals in the same edition of the Olympic Games.
The cyclist has been a citizen of Merit of Viana do Castelo since 2021 “for his outstanding services to sport, particularly in cycling, as European track cycling champion”.
The Portuguese team, made up of 73 athletes, won four medals in Paris2024: gold in the Madison, by Rui Oliveira and Iúri Leitão, silver also in the omnium, both in track cycling, Pichardo's silver in the triple jump and Patrícia Sampaio's bronze in judo.
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