2010 WINTER OLYMPICS
Latin American Hopefuls
Latin America has yet to bring home a Winter Olympic
Games medal. Could the February 12–28, 2010, games in
Vancouver, Canada, be a historic turning point?
Although teams have yet to be officially announced,
a good indicator of the region’s chances is the number
of athletes who competed in the 2006 Winter Games
in Turin, Italy. Some 30 athletes from Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Costa Rica, and Venezuela qualified for the Turin
games. Brazil and Argentina are fielding the most
hopefuls in 2010, with 16 Brazilians and 17 Argentines
vying for a slot in Vancouver. AQ looks at four of the
KEVIN ALVES region’s athletes who have already qualified—or are
FIGURE SKATING
close to qualifying.
ALPINE SKIING Cynthia Jennifer Denzler ing in 1994, when she was 17. to a Brazilian mother and
Cristian Simari Birkner (Colombia) She placed ninth in snow- Portuguese father, 17-year-
(Argentina) One of Colombia’s best boarding at the 2006 Turin old Alves began competing
The 29-year-old from San prospects to qualify for the games—the best finish for a for Brazil in 2007. At the
Carlos de Bariloche is one games, Giant Slalom skier Brazilian athlete in Winter 2008 Four Continents
of only three Argentine ath- Denzler, 25, secured first place Olympics history. Championships, he became
letes to have secured an at the Wales Championship Now 33, she is ranked 12th the first male skater to
Olympic berth as of press last February, edging out in the world as she prepares represent Brazil. Alves
time. Competing in his third her Swiss competitor, Laura to head to Vancouver. Clark went on to place 37th at
Olympics, Birkner placed Zurbriggen. finished the 2008–2009 sea- the 2