Nicole Silveira tests Cortina track ahead of Winter Olympics | OneFootball

Three months before the start of the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Brazilian skeleton athlete Nicole Silveira celebrated the opportunity to test the track that will host the competitions in February. The athlete is already in Cortina D’Ampezzo for a series of training sessions at the venue that will host the skeleton, bobsled, and luge events.

“Having the opportunity to test the Olympic track before the Games makes a big difference. You only truly discover how a track behaves when you're there, feeling the curves, the ice, the rhythm. Each track has its own personality, and being able to understand it in advance gives me confidence and clarity on what to focus on in the coming months of preparation. It helps to eliminate that fear or question mark. It's like knowing the stage before the big show,” she stated.

In Beijing 2022, Nicole achieved Brazil's best result in ice sports at the Olympic Games, finishing in 13th place in skeleton. Her first Olympic experience remains a milestone, not as a peak, but as the beginning of a more mature version of the athlete.

“I have evolved a lot physically, with more specific training and a stronger foundation of strength and speed. I also gained more years of experience, which makes a big difference. But above all, I grew mentally. I learned to better handle expectations, pressure, and to balance intensity and lightness. Today, I feel more mature, more confident, and ready to enjoy every moment on the road to 2026,” she assessed.

The evolution mentioned by the athlete was noticeable in her track results, especially in the last season: in November 2024, she won bronze at the PyeongChang stage, Brazil's first podium in such a tournament in Olympic winter sports. In January 2025, she won the unprecedented Pan-American title in the sport and reached the top 5 in the international ranking. In March of this year, she finished fourth in the Skeleton World Championship, the best result by a Brazilian athlete in World Championships of Olympic winter sports.

Heading towards her second Olympic participation, Nicole sent a message to the Brazilian fans: “I want to sincerely thank you for all the affection and support I receive from Brazil. Every message, every cheer makes a difference. I promise to give my best in every run, with the grit and heart that represent our country. Let's keep believing and showing that Brazil can also shine in winter sports.”

Guaranteed Spots

Brazil currently has five guaranteed spots in Milan-Cortina 2026, and the expectation is that 13 to 20 athletes will participate in the next Games, with representatives in sports such as biathlon, bobsled, freestyle skiing, short track speed skating, speed skating, and snowboarding.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.