2011 WU Update: Confirmed Brazilian Delegation

BRAZIL – Four athletes will represent Brazil at the 25th Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, between January 27^th to February 06^th. Skaters Kevin Alves, Alessia Baldo, Elena Rodrigues and Paulo Setúbal are confirmed in the tournament that brings together young athletes from 53 countries.

Kevin Alves is the youngest athlete of the Brazilian delegation and also one of the most experienced. Being 20 years old, Kevin had the best result of Brazil in a World Adult Figure Skating event. He was the 27ª placed in World Cup 2010 in Turin (Italy) and placed 10º in the Junior Grand Prix, held in Los Angeles (USA), also last year.

Alessia Baldo, 21, and Elena Rodriguez, 21, also will represent Brazil in figure skating in Erzurum. Alessia and Kevin tried a vacant in the Olympic Winter Games (Vancouver 2010). And Alessia reached the 36º position in the Championship Four Continents Figure Skating 2010, in South Korea. Elena has also represented Brazil at the Four Continents Championships and secured a 35th place in the tournament. In 2008, Elena was the first athlete to wear the colors of Brazil in the World Junior Figure Skating Championship, reaching the 44th position.

Alpine skier Paulo Setubal, 22, completes the Brazilian team in Turkey. Paul is the current national champion of Alpine Ski, a title won in September 2010 in Chile.

Technicians Lucia Civardi (figure skating) and German Alonso (skiing) and officials Ricardo Souza, technical advisor of the Brazilian University Sport Confederation (CBDU), and Lucilius Cost complete the delegation.

This is the third participation of Brazil in an edition of the Winter Universiade in the management of the current board of the Brazilian University Sport Confederation (CBDU). Figure skater Simone Pastusiak participated un the 2007 Winter Universiade in Turin (Italy) and Felipe de Souza tested his speed at short track, at the 2009 Winter Universiade in Harbin (China).

“It’s our third Winter Universiade and we are evolving each edition. Again with the partnership of the Brazilian Sports Confederations of Ice and Snow indicating the athletes and the support of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, we are helping and contributing to Brazil strengthening its Olympic stage”, said Luciano Cabral, CBDU President.

(Source: Polyanna Padua, CBDU Media Officer)