EUSA Insider:
Luis Mendes
Age: 24
Place of Birth: Guimaraes, Portugal
University: University of Minho (POR)
Sport: Futsal Published 20 August 2019
How and why did you get involved in Futsal?
First I started playing football, but it wasn’t a good experience so I went to a futsal team near my house. After some training sessions I felt in love with futsal because of the passion and intensity of the game.
What do you study, and how do you balance your study, training and competition?
I graduated in Biochemistry and now I’m finishing my Masters in Chemical Analysis and Characterization Techniques. When you do anything with passion it’s easier to coordinate study, training and competition. If you are committed, you can do many things at the same time with good grades and good sports outcomes.
Tell us about your experiences at the European Universities Championships 2019. Was it your first time at a EUSA event, and what did you enjoy the most?
It was in fact my fourth Championship after Poznan 2015, Zagreb 2016 and Coimbra 2018, and again, it was a great experience. As a student and player at the same time, playing at the European Universities Championships is a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, we didn’t go to the final to try at least achieve the same result as the previous year in Coimbra – second place – but finishing in third place is always a good achievement to remember in the future. What I enjoyed, as always, was the time I spent with my teammates. Without our friendship, we couldn’t do what we did in the last two years. The moments, the stories inside and outside the pitch will be in my memory forever.
Why do you think taking part in university sport is important?
Playing university sports is very important because we can play with some of the best players in Europe and exchange experiences with persons from other cultures. We grow as men and as players.
“My favourite university sport moment will always be the time I spend with my colleagues!”
Next year the European Universities Games are taking place in Belgrade, Serbia. Are you hoping to be there, and if so, what do you hope to achieve?
First and most important thing, we need to win the National Championship. After that we can start thinking in the EUG in Belgrade. It will be for sure a nice event like always in a great country as Serbia. If we make it, we’ll try our best and try to finish on the podium!
What is your favourite university sport moment?
As I said before, besides winning medals, my favourite university sport moment will always be the time I spend with my colleagues!
What is your message to European student-athletes like yourself?
To all European student-athletes I have to say: be proud of what we achieve in our lives. Sometimes we lose, sometimes we win, so enjoy every moment and we all will grow as persons!
EUSA would like to congratulate Luis and his team for their success at the 2019 European Universities Championships, and we hope to see him next year at the European Universities Games 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia!