We are greeted by the President, José Valentim Miranda, an architect by profession and a member of the club in his spare time, who proudly assures us that ‘there are no pools like these in Portugal, perhaps on the Iberian Peninsula’, and adds, in a good mood, that Fluvial is ‘the Porsche of the city, convertible and doesn't use petrol’, referring to the fact that the pools have a retractable roof that can be opened or closed as required.

And there are reasons to be so proud: the club has won the National Masters Swimming Championships in women's, men's and team for the seventh year running. They win titles, trophies and ‘excel in all disciplines: rowing, water polo, pure swimming, artistic swimming, adapted swimming, masters swimming and open water’.

Fluvial has two centres ‘united’ by the river Douro; the Gaia facilities are dedicated to rowing, the club's oldest sport. It is also on the other side of the river that José V. Miranda lives, where he once became a member, long before he imagined that one day he would be president.

It was in 2010, in an ‘act of good faith and love for the club’, that he joined a group of former athletes to rebuild Real Clube Fluvial Portuense, which at the time had only four members and was ‘in a state of decay’. Today, the club has around 3,500 active members.

All for love: of water, sport and ‘family’

The facilities are large, but the relationships are very close. ‘We're a family,’ he says. ‘We like to have the parents close by, boiling over with the games - do this, do that! - They're real bench coaches.’ Fluvial ends up becoming a second home. ‘They spend many hours here, between training, chatting and socialising. We're even thinking of building a room so that parents can work here while their children train,’ he says.

In September, it's time to start training again and meet up with their colleagues after the holidays. Later on, when exams start and at the same time school and college exams arrive, ‘the support of parents and the club is very important to hold everything together,’ he emphasises.

According to José, the fluvialists ‘do everything for love’. In this club, which values training, the competitive spirit is also always present. ‘Nobody demands titles [from the athletes]. We just want them to do their best and do quality work. When they don't win the competition, they earn merit and are valued for their efforts. In the end, everyone wins.’

For those who want to swim without going to competitions, Fluvial offers swimming lessons for all ages. There are also other activities from time to time, such as the Glugluteca, a sensory experience of music and oral narration for babies and children from six months to four years old, the result of a partnership between Fluvial and O Som do Algodão.

The club is open Monday to Friday from 07h00 to 22h00, Saturday from 08h00 to 20h00 and Sunday from 09h00 to 13h30. Just turn up in your swimsuit, cap and goggles and enjoy the pools with a view of the sky.