João Pires (athlete)
# João Pires (athlete)

João Manuel Pires (born 10 June 1979, in São João de Lobrigos) is a former Portuguese middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics failing to advance to the final. He managed to reach the semifinals at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.

## Competition record

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Representing Portugal ||||||
| 1997 | European Junior Championships | Ljubljana, Slovenia | 12th (sf) | 800 m | 1:51.42 |
| 1998 | Ibero-American Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 4th | 800 m | 1:50.73 |
| 1998 | World Junior Championships | Annecy, France | 4th | 800 m | 1:48.22 |
| 1999 | European U23 Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 5th | 800 m | 1:47.83 |
| 1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | 26th (h) | 800 m | 1:47.08 |
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 20th (h) | 800 m | 1:47.61 |
| 2001 | World Indoor Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 13th (h) | 800 m | 1:50.13 |
| 2001 | European U23 Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 9th (h) | 800m | 1:48.92 |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 17th (h) | 800 m | 1:47.34 |
| 2002 | European Indoor Championships | Vienna, Austria | 15th (h) | 800 m | 1:49.72 |
| 2003 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 18th (h) | 800 m | 1:50.76 |
| 2003 | World Championships | Paris, France | 23rd (sf) | 800 m | 1:49.19 |
| 2004 | World Indoor Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 14th (h) | 1500 m | 3:45.48 |
| 2004 | Ibero-American Championships | Huelva, Spain | 4th | 800 m | 1:47.29 |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 29th (h) | 800 m | 1:46.71 |
| 2005 | European Indoor Championships | Madrid, Spain | 21st (h) | 1500 m | 3:50.51 |

## Personal bests

Outdoor

* 400 metres – 48.72 (2001)
* 800 metres – 1:45.59 (Zürich 2000)
* 1000 metres – 2:21.33 (Lisbon2004)
* 1500 metres – 3:42.66 (Braga 2001)

Indoor

* 800 metres – 1:47.33 (Stuttgart 2002)
* 1500 metres – 3:41.17 (Espinho 2004)
