Cape Verde competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics which were held in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012.^[1] The country's participation at London marked its fifth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1996.^[1] The delegation included Ruben Sança, a long-distance runner; Lidiane Lopes, a sprinter; and Adysângela Moniz, a judoka. Moniz and Sança were also selected as the flag bearers for the opening and closing ceremonies respectively.^[2] Of the three Cape Verdean athletes, only Moniz progressed further than the first round.^[3][4]

Cape Verde participated in five Summer Olympic games between its debut in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, US and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[1] The highest number of Cape Verdean athletes participating in a summer games is three^[1] in the 1996 games in Atlanta, US, the 2004 games in Athens, Greece and in the 2012 games in London.^[5][6][7] No Cape Verdean athlete has ever won a medal at the Olympics.^[1] Three athletes from Cape Verde were selected to compete in the London games; Ruben Sança in the track and field 5000 m, Lidiane Lopes in the track and field 100 m and Adysângela Moniz in the judo +78kg.^[3][4]

Cape Verde was represented by one male athlete at the 2012 Olympics in athletics – Ruben Sança, a 5000 metres runner.^[3] Making his Olympic debut at these Games, Sança was given a university place after previously competing in the marathon at the 2011 World Championships^[8] and the 1500 meters at the 2009 Lusophony Games.^[9] He competed on 8 August in the 5000 metres event,^[10] finishing last out of 21 athletes in heat two in a time of 14 minutes and 35.19 seconds.^[10] He was 1 minute and 20.04 seconds behind the winner of his heat, Dejen Gebremeskel. Overall he finished 40th out of 43 athletes,^{[lower-alpha 1]} and he was 1 minute and 13.98 seconds slower than the slowest athlete that progressed to the final round and, therefore, that was the end of his competition.^[10]

Competing at her first Olympics,^[11] Lidiane Lopes was the youngest ever competitor for Cape Verde at the Olympics, aged 17.^[1] She competed in the 100 meters on 3 August.^[12] Lopes was drawn into heat four^[12] and ran a time of 12.72 seconds and finished fourth in her preliminary heat, 1.12 seconds behind the winner, Toea Wisil.^[12] She finished 17th out of 33 athletes overall and was 0.48 seconds behind the slowest athlete who progressed to the heats.^[13] Therefore, Lopes did not progress to the heats.^[13]

Cape Verde had one judoka competing in the 2012 Olympics.^[4] This woman was Adysângela Moniz,^[4] a 25-year-old athlete,^[14] competing at her first Olympic Games.^[14] She competed in the +78kg event. Moniz received a bye in the first round and fought in match four against Idalys Ortíz from Cuba in the second round.^[15][16] Moniz lost and therefore did not progress to the quarter-finals.^[16]

More information Athlete, Event ...

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Adysângela Moniz	Women's +78 kg	Bye	Ortiz (CUB) L 0002–0103	did not advance

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