Carlos Sá

About

Carlos Sá is a Portuguese ultramarathon athlete born December 24, 1973, in Vilar do Monte, Barcelos, and one of the most versatile long-course endurance athletes ever to emerge from Europe. He came to the sport late: in 2000 he weighed over 90kg and smoked two packs of cigarettes a day, and it was watching his young son imitate him smoking that shocked him into a complete transformation. He lost more than 30kg and built himself into a world-class ultra competitor over the following decade. In January 2013 he set the official world record for ascending and descending Aconcagua — the highest peak in the Americas at 6,962m — in 15 hours 42 minutes, covering 81km with 8,000m of elevation change at temperatures reaching -20°C. Months later he won the Badwater Ultramarathon 135 in Death Valley in 24:38, becoming the first Portuguese athlete to win the historic race. He has also finished 4th at UTMB 2012 and raced six editions of the Marathon des Sables. Beyond competing, he organizes trail events in Portugal through his Carlos Sá – Nature Events project, including the Peneda-Gerês Trail Adventure, an eight-stage 280km mountain race through Portugal's only national park.

Notable Wins

• — Badwater Ultramarathon 135 2013 (first Portuguese winner
• — 24:38)
• — Aconcagua speed record 2013 (ascent + descent in 15h42m)
• — Trail des Hauts Forts 2017
• — Trail Morzine-Avoriaz 2013
• — 3rd Badwater 2014
• — 4th UTMB 2012
• — 5th UTMB 2011

Race History