26/04/2022   Sexual harassment in training in Rio Maior to Ines Henriques






 

 

The Olympic walker Inês Henriques yesterday denounced a situation of "sexual harassment during training" in Rio Maior, admitting that she was "apprehensive and afraid" for the situation that had arisen.
 
“Sometimes incredible things happen and I don't like that! Because I am doing my job and I like to be respected, but sadly it has become commonplace. Such a situation makes us apprehensive and scared! And if it takes away our peace of mind, it must be reported", she wrote on Facebook.
 
Inês Henriques, 41, European champion in Berlin 2018 and world champion in London 2017, in the 50km walk, accused a "black race over six feet tall" of having "exposed her penis" during a short conversation while she was preparing for training on the road to Caniceira near Rio Maior (POR), where she has been training for over 30 years.
 
"As a rule, I'm kind to everyone and at first I said good morning. She looked at me, stopped and asked me if I was an athlete. I said yes and thought we were having a circumstantial conversation. I then felt that she was getting very close to me and I walked away and continued to prepare for my training with my exercises. I opened the car, to take off my shoes and, when I look at him (all this in less than two or three minutes) the boy was already showing his penis”, revealed Ines Henriques.
 
The Rio Maior athlete, who was waiting for coach Jorge Miguel, said he "reacted with aggressive words", since "she did not admit such disrespect" and later filed a complaint with GNR "which did not continue and he is gone".
The athlete does not know the offender and stated that she could only identify the offender if she saw him again.
 
"It is serious, it is a crime and as a woman I must not remain silent! No woman should be silent in the face of sexual harassment, in any form! I publish the situation to warn women to be careful” she concluded.