Portuguese soldiers on a mission in Romania stood out in the Bucharest Half Marathon, held on October 10th. Lieutenant Leonardo Branco, 27, from Coimbra, won 1st place overall, completing the 21.1 kilometers in 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 19 seconds.
In the same competition, Captain Nurse José Marques, 48, from Viseu, achieved 1st place in the over-45 age group and 12th place overall. The event saw the participation of 11 Portuguese soldiers from the 9th National Detached Force.
Participation in this initiative strengthened camaraderie and promoted values such as discipline, esprit de corps, and self-improvement, while contributing to Portugal's representation among local and international communities. The Portuguese presence in Romania is part of NATO's Enhanced Vigilance Activities, through which Portugal contributes to collective defense and cooperation with allied forces.
