Brazil Achieves Historic Paralympic Winter Performance with Strong Showings from Aline Rocha and Elena Sena

Brazil marked a significant milestone at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina with standout performances from athletes Aline Rocha and Elena Sena, both representing Team São Paulo. Rocha secured 7th place in the 7.5 km seated biathlon event, Brazil's second-best result ever at the Winter Paralympics, just behind Cristian Ribera's 6th place in 2018. Elena Sena finished 14th in the same competition, expressing enthusiasm for her debut and optimism about future races.

The biathlon combines skiing with precision shooting over a 7.5 km course, where athletes must manage shooting accuracy to avoid penalties. Despite some mistakes, Rocha remained focused on upcoming cross-country skiing events, highlighting the challenges of training in Brazil's snowless environment that also affected Sena.

Secretary Marcos da Costa praised both athletes for their exemplary performances and underscored the importance of sustained investment in Paralympic sports. The São Paulo government’s Team São Paulo initiative underpins this success, having invested R$ 8.2 million to support 157 athletes across 16 sports. This effort promotes inclusion and empowerment for athletes with disabilities and has been extended through a partnership with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee to maintain support through to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Upcoming Paralympic contests will see Sena return for the 12.5 km biathlon and Ribera aiming for his first Paralympic medal in the cross-country sprint event, further spotlighting Brazil's growing competitiveness in winter para-sports.