The COP handed out its annual awards ©COP

Judoka Telma Monteiro was awarded the women's athlete of the year prize at the National Olympic Committee of Portugal's (COP) "Celebração Olímpica" gala.

The 30-year-old received the accolade after winning her country's only medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August.

Monteiro, a quadruple World Championship silver medallist and five-time European champion, claimed the third step on the podium in the Brazilian city in the women's under-57 kilogram division.

She beat Romania's Corina Căprioriu in a bronze medal bout after coming through the repechage system.

Canoeist Fernando Pimenta won the men's prize after winning two gold medals at the European Championships in Moscow.

He triumphed over both 5,000 metres and 1,000m in the K1 class.

Telma Monteiro won Portugal's sole Olympic medal at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Telma Monteiro won Portugal's sole Olympic medal at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Pimenta, a K2 1,000m Olympic silver medallist at London 2012, then finished fifth in the K1 1,000m at Rio 2016.

Elsewhere, a merit medal was awarded to former beach volleyball duo Miguel Maia and João Brenha for promoting Olympism in Portugal.

The pair finished fourth at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. 

European junior surfing champion Teresa Bonvalot won the Youth Athlete of the Year trophy. 

Celebração Olímpica is held every year to honour Portuguese athletes.