Brazil at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang

Team composition and events

The Brazilian delegation included two competitors in para-Nordic skiing and one in para-snowboarding. Aline Rocha made history by becoming the first woman to represent Brazil at the Winter Paralympic Games. The athletes took part in events that test endurance, technique and adaptive equipment, with classifications based on the nature and extent of each competitor's impairment.

• Para-Nordic skiing: two athletes representing Brazil
• Para-snowboarding: one athlete representing Brazil
• Historic milestone: Aline Rocha — first Brazilian woman at Winter Paralympics

Background and history

Brazil’s first Winter Paralympic participation took place at the 2014 Games in Sochi. The 2018 delegation continued an emerging pattern in which nations with limited winter climates invest in a few athletes to broaden their Paralympic representation. The country's Winter Paralympic program operates alongside a much larger and more established Summer Paralympic movement, and winter participation often relies on specialist training abroad and collaboration with international coaches and facilities.

Preparation, challenges and significance

Tropical countries such as Brazil face structural challenges when preparing winter-sport athletes: lack of domestic snow and ice facilities, higher travel costs for seasonal training, and fewer domestic competitions for development. To overcome these hurdles, athletes commonly train in countries with winter conditions and work with adaptive sport organizations for equipment and classification support. Despite these obstacles, participation is important for representation, visibility of athletes with disabilities and long-term development of winter adaptive sports in underrepresented regions.

Notable facts and legacy

Brazil’s presence in Pyeongchang highlighted the growing global reach of the Paralympic movement. The team’s participation—linking the nation to the wider winter sports community—served to inspire future athletes and to promote adaptive winter sport opportunities back home. For further details about the nation and the Games consult official sources: Brazil delegation overview, 2018 Winter Paralympics, Pyeongchang, South Korea and historical participation in Sochi 2014.