Portugal at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games: full schedule
The history of Portugal in the Winter Games began in Oslo 1952, and the Portuguese have since been featured in cross-country skiing, speed skating, bobsled, alpine skiing and freestyle skiing. In fact, it was in this last modality the best Portuguese result, with Mafalda Queiroz Pereira and a 21st place in the ars in the 1998 Nagano edition.
In Beijing 2022 Lusa will go with three athletes: Vanina Guerillot (alpine skiing), José Cabeça (cross-country skiing) and Ricardo Brancal (alpine skiing). On February 7, the country will compete for the first time in Beijing, Yanqing snow, with Vanina Guerillot.
Olympics.com has more information about what will be Portugal’s ninth participation in the Winter Games.
the athletes
The three Portuguese representatives at Beijing 2022 are from snow sports: Vanina Guerillot and Ricardo Brancal in alpine skiing; José Cabeça in cross-country skiing.
At the age of 19, Guerillot was born in France, being the grandparents of Atães (Guimarães). Brought into the sport at a very young age by her father Yannick (he is also her coach), the skier competed for Portugal in the Lausanne Youth Winter Olympics 2020. In his career, several good results, with emphasis on a top 40 in the Are (Sweden) stage of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in 2019.
For her, representing Portugal means strengthening ties with her mother’s country, which she has always visited, as well as inspiring other Portuguese athletes: “It’s a beautiful country and the people are very nice… I can inspire young people who live near a station .”
READ: Vanina Guerillot is ready for Beijing 2022: “I want to show my best against the best”
Ricardo Brancal comes from the birthplace of winter sports in Portugal: Covilhã, near Serra da Estrela.
Skiing since and teenager in adolescence. From 202 wanted people are looking for in Italy to be able to ask for Beijing 2022. Such last dedication gave this 25-year-old from Covilha an excellent season of results, December 2021 and January 2022.
Qualifying for the Winter Games took place a few weeks ago: “Representing Portugal means everything,” Ricardo said in an interview with Olympics.com.
READ: Five facts about Ricardo Brancal, Portuguese highlight of alpine skiing
José Cabeça the Portuguese in cross-country skiing, a sport in which he started just over two years ago, in January 2020, gave the country a spot in Beijing 2022. He then began to dedicate himself to training. , whether or not rollerblades or snow (when possible) and the country in order to secure some FIS points for the ratings National and international. To improve his performance, he began to be observed by a Norwegian coach, who will be at his side in Beijing, after his qualification for the Games has been confirmed.
“My dream since I was little was always to go to the Olympic Games. I always worked for it, even without knowing which modality to represent. I had in mind that I would be there and that it would happen”, he revealed.
READ: Five facts about José Cabeça, from cross-country skiing in Portugal
Schedule
Vanina Guerillot it will be the first competition in Beijing 2022. On February 7th, participate in the giant slalom at 10:15 (2:15 Lisbon time). Two days later, it’s time to do the slalom test, at 10:15 am (2:15 am Lisbon time).
José Cabeça will compete in the 15km of cross-country skiing in the classic style, on February 11 at 3:00 pm (7:00 am Lisbon time).
Ricardo Brancal will end the Portuguese participation in these Winter Games, by disputing the giant slalom of alpine skiing on the 13th, at 10:15 (2:15 Lisbon time) and the slalom, on the 16th, also at 10:15 (2:15 by Lisbon time).
To check here the entire schedule.
Portugal’s flag bearers at the Winter Olympics
List of who carried the Portuguese flag at the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Games until PyeongChang 2018:
- Oslo 1952 – Duarte Espírito Santo (alpine skiing)
- Calgary 1988 – Antonio Reis (bobsled)
- Lillehammer 1994 – Georges Mendes (alpine skiing)
- Nagano 1998 – Mafalda Queiroz Pereira (freestyle skiing)
- Turin 2006 – Danny Silva (cross country skiing)
- Vancouver 2010 – Danny Silva (cross country skiing)
- Sochi 2014 – Arthur Hanse (alpine skiing)
- Pyeong Chang 2018 – Kekyen Lam (cross country skiing)