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SportsCoach: Etson Barros' health and autonomy priority after severe traffic accident
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Paulo Murta, coach of Portuguese long-distance runner Etson Barros, has emphasized that the priority is the athlete's health, autonomy, and quality of life following a severe traffic accident on April 16. Barros, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and was placed in an induced coma, left the hospital on Monday after three months to begin motor, nutritional, and sensory rehabilitation at a specialized clinic in the Algarve. Murta expressed optimism about Barros' recovery, noting it will be a long and demanding process requiring daily work and dedication. The 25-year-old athlete, born in Cape Verde and holding dual nationality, holds the Portuguese record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:12.19) and has represented Portugal at multiple international championships, including the Tokyo 2025 World Championships and European Championships in Munich 2022 and Rome 2024.
Source report
Paulo Murta, coach of long-distance runner Etson Barros, has emphasised that the athlete's recovery of "autonomy and quality of life" is the primary focus, three months after Barros suffered a traumatic brain injury in a road accident. Barros was discharged from hospital on Monday.
"The priority is, above all, the recovery of the man, his health, autonomy, and quality of life. Only later, and if circumstances allow, will it make sense to think about the athlete's recovery," Murta said in statements to the Portuguese Athletics Federation website.
Transition to Specialised Rehabilitation
On Monday, Benfica announced that their athlete — the Portuguese record holder in the 3,000-metre steeplechase — had left hospital to begin "motor, nutritional, and sensory rehabilitation" at a specialised clinic in the Algarve.
"As a friend, and only then as a coach, I remain optimistic about Etson's recovery, placing full trust in the team that is supporting him. It will be a long and very demanding process, in which only daily work, competence, dedication, and persistence can lead to a gradual recovery," acknowledged Paulo Murta, who also serves as a national coach. He noted that Barros is being "very well supported" in this new phase of rehabilitation.
Details of the Accident
On 16 April, the vehicle in which Etson Barros was travelling overturned on a road between Estoi, in the municipality of Faro, and Olhão, where the athlete resides. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and was kept under observation in hospital, placed in an induced coma, with a guarded prognosis.
Athletic Career
Born in Cape Verde but holding dual nationality, the 25-year-old Etson Barros represented Portugal at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, and at the European Championships in Munich 2022 and Rome 2024. He broke the Portuguese record in the 3,000-metre steeplechase in 2025, clocking 8:12.19 minutes in Oordegem, Belgium.
Barros became national champion in the 3,000-metre steeplechase five times, between 2021 and 2025. In the same distance, he also won two silver medals at the European Under-23 Championships (2021 and 2023) and a bronze at the European Under-20 Championships (2019).
Source
RecordWestern
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Paulo Murta Prioritizes Etson Barros' Health and Autonomy After Traumatic Brain Injury