Traditionally known for its dominance in tropical sports and Olympic disciplines like football, volleyball, and judo, Brazil has started to reshape its reputation by making historic strides in winter sports. Two standout athletes at the center of this transformation are Lucas Pinheiro and Nicole Silveira, who recently achieved unprecedented results in international competitions — pushing Brazil into the global spotlight in a field once considered out of reach.
Lucas Pinheiro: Sprinting on Snow
Lucas Pinheiro, a young athlete from Brasília, has quickly become a pioneer in cross-country skiing for Brazil. Competing in the final stages of the 2024–2025 FIS season, he made headlines by finishing in the top 10 at a World Cup qualifying event in Switzerland — the highest-ever placement for a Brazilian male in the sport.
Having trained part of the year in Chile and Scandinavia, Pinheiro has shown that South American athletes can not only compete, but thrive in snow disciplines when given the right infrastructure and support. His background in athletics — he started as a track runner — helped develop his explosive endurance and technique.
Speaking to international media, Pinheiro stated:
“There’s no blueprint for Brazilians in these sports, so we have to build our own. My dream is not just to qualify for the Olympics — it’s to help create a future team.”
He is currently preparing for the 2025 South American Winter Games and has received support from the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s winter development fund.
Nicole Silveira: Sliding into History
In the world of skeleton racing, where athletes hurl themselves head-first down icy tracks at speeds exceeding 130 km/h, Nicole Silveira has emerged as one of Brazil’s most consistent performers. Her most recent World Cup season ended with her ranking 12th overall, the highest for any Brazilian athlete — male or female — in a sliding sport.
Nicole has been competing internationally since 2018 and made her Olympic debut in Beijing 2022. What separates her from the field is not only her athleticism, but her advocacy for equality and inclusion in sport. She’s been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ athletes and mental health awareness in high-performance environments.
This season, she achieved a personal best at the Altenberg track in Germany, placing fifth against some of the most experienced sliders in the world.
Her determination has earned her recognition in both Brazil and abroad, with international broadcasters featuring her story as part of a growing narrative: winter sports are expanding beyond traditional powerhouses.
Changing the Narrative for Brazil
Until recently, Brazil’s participation in winter sports was viewed more as symbolic than competitive. But the performances of Pinheiro and Silveira are reshaping that perception. They have shown that with training, technology, and support, Brazilian athletes can reach the same heights as their peers from snow-covered nations.
The Brazilian Confederation of Ice and Snow Sports (CBDN) has ramped up investment in athlete scouting and partnerships with foreign training centers. A national winter training facility, still in the planning stages, is also being considered in southern Brazil — a region with relatively colder climates.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Perhaps the most important impact of Pinheiro and Silveira’s success is their inspirational reach. Schools and youth sports programs in southern Brazil have reported an increase in demand for access to roller-skiing and dry-land skeleton training simulators. Videos of their performances have gone viral on Brazilian social media, reaching audiences that previously had no exposure to winter sports.
Nicole Silveira has also launched a digital series documenting her training and travel, aiming to demystify her sport and encourage young athletes from diverse backgrounds to consider winter disciplines.
Conclusion: Breaking the Ice, Building the Future
Lucas Pinheiro and Nicole Silveira are more than just competitors — they are pioneers, ambassadors, and change agents for Brazilian winter sports. Their performances in the 2024–2025 season have broken records, challenged expectations, and laid the groundwork for a future where snow and ice are no longer foreign concepts in Brazilian Olympic dreams.
With the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games on the horizon, both athletes are not only aiming to qualify, but to make history on the world’s coldest stage.