Encourage future Olympians in the family with these sporty summer breaks

With Friday’s opening ceremony and Team GB’s early successes sparking Olympic fever in the UK, there’s no better time to dive into an active family holiday this summer – especially if parents suspect there may be some latent sporting talent in their youngsters. After all, many Olympians discover their passion for their sport young, meaning parents might find they have a budding Jessica Ennis-Hill, Chris Hoy or Steve Redgrave in the family after a sporty summer break.

Martinhal Family Hotels and Resorts in Portugal offer a variety of sporting academies, classes and activities for the whole family to enjoy, starting from as young as four years old. Here are just a few Olympics-inspired options for families to try this summer at Martinhal Sagres, on the Eastern tip of the Algarve.

Tennis

Britain’s great tennis player, Andy Murray, will bow out from the sport following the Paris 2024 Olympics – but did you know that he started playing at the age of five? Martinhal Sagres offers a Tennis Academy for children from four to fourteen years old, who can learn or improve tennis skills under the guidance of a qualified and experienced instructor. Private hour-long lessons are also available, or guests can simply book one of the two floodlit tennis courts at Club 98 to practice as a family. Prices start at £19.

Swimming

With six Olympic medals to his name (including his recent silver win in the 100m breaststroke), you might be surprised to learn that swimmer Adam Peaty actually had an acute fear of water as a child. Luckily, his first swimming lesson aged four helped cure this fear. Martinhal Sagres offers private swimming lessons from the same age, with instructors able to focus on a child’s strengths and weaknesses for a 30-minute session at the Village Pool (from £22). Lessons for ages 16+ are also available for beginners, intermediate and advanced swimmers (from £25) – or for something more light-hearted, guests can book a water family fun experience with games led by an instructor, for ages three and up (from £22).

Cycling

Cyclist Tom Pidcock, who retained his gold for Team GB yesterday in Men’s Cross Country Mountain Biking, first learnt to ride a bike at the age of three when his mum tied his feet to his pedals. Luckily, Martinhal’s guided bike experiences are more fun than this. Whether kids want to try an exciting 90 minute pump track lesson (from £25 including equipment), a course of three private cycling lessons (£165) or a 10k family fun ride through Sagres (£33), there are plenty of ways to enjoy life on two wheels at Martinhal.

Windsurfing 

Emma Wilson first learnt to windsurf with her two-time Olympian mother Penny, and scooped her first world title aged just 12. While this might be a lofty goal, families can try windsurfing thanks to the fantastic Water Sports Centre at Martinhal Sagres. Windsurfing lessons for under 16s start at £50 for 55 minutes, or those just looking to hire equipment can do so from £34 an hour.

Other sports and academies available at Martinhal Sagres include a football academy, surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, horse riding and golf.

See below for more details and high-resolution images for Martinhal Sagres. For example summer bookings at each Martinhal resort, please visit our Newsroom.

Martinhal Sagres

Located on the eastern tip of Portugal’s Algarve coast, Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts’ flagship hotel Martinhal Sagres remains the leading light in luxury family holidays. With award-winning kids clubs, a large variety of activities ranging from mountain biking to surfing and sleek and stylish design, the hotel keeps even the most active of kids entertained and gives even the most stressed of parents a chance to breathe and unwind. Martinhal Sagres is incredibly spacious, with the facilities and green areas spread out over 220,000 square metres and with its own access to a 700m beach.

About Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts 

Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts has been renowned for providing luxurious family holidays since the opening of its first resort in 2010. Martinhal is helping more families have a holiday together to remember at their properties: Martinhal Lisbon Oriente,  Martinhal Quinta, Martinhal Sagres and Martinhal Chiado . Each Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts’ property is designed with families, luxury and design in mind. Found in some of the most prestigious areas in Portugal, Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts offers superb accommodation from beach front locations, sophisticated golf areas to Lisbon city centre.