Paulo Antunes
Developing people. Building athletes. Creating champions.
Who I Am
Every coach has a story. Mine began long before the medals, the championships and the Olympic Games.
Sport has always been a fundamental part of my life. Like many coaches, I began my journey as an athlete. Those years gave me invaluable experiences and allowed me to learn from coaches who influenced not only my sporting development but also the way I see leadership, education and human performance.
At the same time, I discovered something that would shape the rest of my career: I was never satisfied with simply following a training programme. I wanted to understand why. Why did one method work better than another? Why did athletes respond differently to the same training? That curiosity became one of the defining characteristics of who I am.
Rather than copying existing methods, I chose to learn from every experience, combine practical knowledge with scientific evidence, and gradually build my own coaching philosophy. My degree in Physical Education from the Faculty of Human Kinetics (University of Lisbon) provided the scientific foundation that complemented my practical experience.
Before building great athletes, we must first help develop great people.
In 2009, I founded the Triathlon School at Clube de Natação de Torres Novas. My vision was never simply to create successful athletes. I wanted to build an environment where young people could grow through sport, develop strong values and, ultimately, become better people.
Today, my work is entirely focused on high-performance sport. I coach elite Portuguese and international athletes, supporting their preparation for the highest levels of international competition. Every athlete presents a unique challenge, and that is one of the aspects of coaching that continues to inspire me every day.
For me, coaching has never been just about training sessions, race plans or performance data. It is about building trust, understanding people and helping athletes discover what they are truly capable of achieving. The medals, records and international results are milestones that make me proud, but they are the consequence of a process built with patience, consistency and genuine commitment.
Two decades of development
The Project
For more than two decades, I have dedicated my life to developing athletes, firmly believing that exceptional performances are never the result of chance. They are the outcome of a structured process, long-term vision, consistency and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
In 2009, I founded the Triathlon School at Clube de Natação de Torres Novas with a clear vision: to create an environment where young athletes could develop not only into high-performance competitors but, above all, into outstanding people. Over the years, the project has grown into one of Portugal's leading triathlon development programmes, producing national champions, European champions, World champions and Olympic athletes.
Today, my High Performance Training Group is based at the Portuguese National Sports Centre in Jamor, where we train on a daily basis in an environment built around excellence, professionalism and continuous improvement.
Ricardo Batista
World Junior Champion, European Under-23 Champion, European Elite Sprint Champion and sixth place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
João Nuno Batista
World Junior Champion, two-time European Junior Champion and European Youth Championships silver medallist.
Maria Tomé
Olympian at the Paris 2024 Games and World Under-23 silver and bronze medallist.
This journey has also been shaped by athletes such as Gustavo do Canto and Francisco Carvalho, whose commitment and dedication have played an important role in building the high-performance culture that defines our programme.
From across Europe
An International Group
The international profile of our training group reflects the reputation the programme has earned over the years, attracting athletes from across Europe who have chosen Portugal as their training base in pursuit of excellence.
Throughout the season, many of these athletes spend extended periods training in Portugal alongside our Portuguese athletes. Beyond our daily work at Jamor, I organise high-performance training camps in internationally recognised endurance locations such as Font-Romeu in France and the Algarve in Portugal, where athletes from different nations train together, exchange knowledge and push one another towards higher levels of performance.
Our ambition has never been simply to produce outstanding results, but to build an environment where talented athletes from different countries, cultures and backgrounds can train together, challenge one another and reach their highest potential.
The Philosophy
More Than Medals
I have never believed that success can be measured solely by medals or podium finishes. Results matter, but they are the consequence of a much deeper process built on commitment, discipline, consistency and mutual trust. My role as a coach extends far beyond designing training programmes: it is about understanding people, recognising that every athlete is unique and creating an environment where each individual can develop to their full potential. The strongest teams are not those with the most talented athletes, but those built on trust, shared purpose and a culture where everyone helps each other improve.
01
Individual by Design
There is no universal formula for success. Every athlete has different strengths, different challenges and different ambitions, so every training process must be individualised, carefully planned and continuously adapted to the athlete's development.
02
No Shortcuts
Excellence is never achieved through shortcuts. It is built day after day through thousands of small decisions, disciplined habits and the willingness to improve, even when progress is not immediately visible.
03
People First
High performance should never come at the expense of personal development. Sport teaches respect, humility, responsibility and resilience: qualities that remain long after an athlete's competitive career has ended.
Develop better people. Build better athletes. The results will follow.
The team
Rest of the Team
Tiago Fonseca’s journey in triathlon is deeply connected to Antunes Tri Crew and the work developed by Paulo Antunes.
For several years, Tiago was coached by Paulo, experiencing first-hand the training process, the demands of competition and the development of a team committed to excellence. This experience allowed him to understand not only the training methodology, but also the principles, philosophy and approach that form the foundation of the project.
His sporting background and experience as an athlete have contributed to his development both in sport and in life. Having been part of the process as an athlete, Tiago understands the demands, challenges and dedication required to pursue high-performance goals.
Today, as Assistant Coach, Tiago plays an important role within the Antunes Tri Crew coaching structure. His experience as an athlete, combined with his deep understanding of Paulo Antunes’ methodology, allows him to contribute in a close and integrated way to the development of every athlete.
More than just a member of the coaching team, Tiago is a daily presence within the group. He supports training sessions, contributes to the team dynamic and helps create a working environment built on trust, commitment and the constant pursuit of improvement.
His connection with the athletes, his understanding of the demands of training and the close relationship he maintains with the group are fundamental aspects of his role. Having experienced the process himself as an athlete, he understands the importance of consistency, dedication and the small details that contribute to long-term development.
The collaboration between Paulo Antunes and Tiago Fonseca is built on a relationship developed over many years, first as coach and athlete, and today as colleagues and members of the same coaching team.
This connection allows the methodology and philosophy of Antunes Tri Crew to be shared consistently, while preserving the identity, values and high standards that define the project.
Tiago represents the continuity of a methodology, the experience of someone who has lived the process from within, and the commitment of a coach who works closely with athletes to help them develop and reach their full potential.