1948. "The people of Lisbon cheered in delirium" for the roller hockey heroes

In April 1948, Portugal began building a dominant image in roller hockey by winning its second world title (it now has 16) in Montreux, Switzerland. In Lisbon, the national players, captained by Olivério Serpa, received a “triumphal” welcome, as reported by DN. Upon arriving in the capital on a KLM flight, the Portuguese delegation was taken to the Ministry of Education at Campo de Santana, where a crowd sang the national anthem in unison. The players were carried on shoulders at the airport, and a procession through Lisbon featured national flags displayed on balconies. Santos Romão, president of the Portuguese Skating Federation, expressed his pride, while national coach José Prazeres noted that while he expected a warm welcome, the scale of the celebration was truly moving.