Alex Macuácua makes history in braga and put mozambican athletics at the top

Last Saturday, May 3, 2025, the name of Alex Orlando Macuácua entered the history of Mozambican athletics in a resounding way. At just 21 years old, the athlete who competes for Sporting Clube de Portugal (SCP) set a new absolute national record in the 10,000 meters by crossing the finish line in 30 minutes, 1 second and 34 hundredths (30:01.34), during the Portuguese National Championships, held in the city of Braga. The mark surpassed a record that had stood for more than four decades, belonging to veteran Pedro Mulomo, set at 30:09.3 since 1982.

Originally from Mozambique and a member of the Lisbon Athletics Association, Macuácua shone on the track, finishing third overall, but also taking first place in his category, Under-23. The feat is even more significant if we consider the consistency that the young long-distance runner has shown in competitions in Portugal, combined with his determination to overcome limits, even after an injury that kept him out of training during the first few months of the year.

Without hiding the confidence he has always had in his potential, Alex revealed that he had been waiting for this moment. “I knew I would achieve it. Last year, in a road race in Lisbon, I was five seconds away from the record. I waited for an opportunity to run the 10,000 meters on the track and this happened”, he declared, visibly emotional, but confident in his performance. After the triumph, he did not hesitate to point out himself as deserving of the tribute: “I dedicate this record to myself, for my recovery and my effort. It was a difficult period, but I managed to come back and I am in shape”.

Breaking the national record for the 10,000 metres represents not only a personal victory, but also a symbol of renewal for Mozambican athletics, which is seeing the emergence of a new generation capable of restoring the country's prominence on the track. Even with the fall of his record, Pedro Mulomo continues to be a living legend of the sport, still holding the best national time in the 5,000 metres (14:26.6), set in 1980, on the cinder track at Parque dos Continuadores, in Maputo.

Macuácua, born on November 3, 2004, is currently one of the most promising athletes in Mozambican athletics outside the country. With structure, support and a clear competitive spirit, he shows signs that this achievement could be just the first of many. His presence in international competitions, and the possibility of representing Mozambique on bigger stages, such as the Olympic Games or the World Championships, is already seen as a realistic and exciting expectation.