Ricardo Brancal, Biological Engineering alumnus, is one of the athletes who will represent Portugal at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games (4th-20th February). The 25-year-old athlete will compete in the slalom and giant slalom events, in alpine skiing discipline. Ricardo Brancal is part of the Portuguese Olympic project since 2018.

The Técnico alumnus has already participated in 4 World Championships – the last one in 2019, in Åre (Sweden), where he ranked 48th, in slalom. Ricardo Brancal has won several national competitions and has become national absolute champion (slalom & giant slalom) six times, and national university champion twice. In February 2021, he ranked among the top 40 athletes in the Alpine Ski World Championship – Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) stage. He is the first Portuguese athlete to achieve the feat.

The Portuguese delegation also includes two more skiers: Vanina de Oliveira (alpine skiing), and José Cabeça, (cross-country skiing).

Ricardo Brancal and Vanina de Oliveira have been named as the Portuguese flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, on Friday, 4th February, at 12:00 (Lisbon time).