Vasco da Gama Vasco da Gama Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira (; c. 1460s – 24 December 1524), was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea. His initial voyage to India (1497–1499) was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and therefore, the West and the Orient. Da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India was significant and opened the way for an age of global imperialism and for the Portuguese to establish a long-lasting colonial empire in Asia. Traveling the ocean route allowed
Portugal at the 2012 Summer Olympics (up to a maximum of three athletes per event with the 'A' Standard, and one athlete per event with the 'B' Standard): Portuguese swimmers have achieved qualifying standards in the swimming events (up to a maximum of two swimmers per event with the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially one with the Olympic Selection Time (OST)): Portugal qualified two triathletes for the men's event. Portugal at the 2012 Summer Olympics Portugal competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, held in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The nation celebrated its centennial anniversary participating in the Olympics, having participated at