Un skieur Portugais aux Jeux Olympiques

My name is Andrea Bugnone De Mello. I’m 15 years old. My father is Italian and my mother Portuguese. I live in Geneva, Switzerland and train in Megève, France.  My most recent result is a 7th place in Super-G of the U16 category (first of my year of birth) at the European Championships (trophéée Scarafiotti) in Val d’Isère. I am a member of the Portuguese Ski Federation (Federaçao de Desportos de Inverno, FDI) and have been enrolled on the Olympic Track to compete for Portugal in the Junior Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 2016 and in the Winter Olympics in 2018. I am a multi-discipline skier, having obtained top results in all of the four ski disciplines (Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G and Skier-cross) that are open to skiers of my age.

In 2011 I ran in my first international competition under the colors of Portugal. In 2012 I won the first medals in an international competition in Portugal’s history. I won two gold and two silver medals at the Trofeu Borrufa in Andorra. I also placed 15th at the World Championships (the « Trofeo Topolino ») in the Giant Slalom. That same year I also competed in the French National Championship where I finished 3rd in Super-G and 5th in Slalom.

In 2012 I was named best young sports talent by the Portuguese Ski Federation.

For me to be able to compete at the highest level, I need to spend 130-140 days skiing every year. This implies skiing on average 5 days a week during the winter season and 6-10 days a month during the rest of the year. So far summer skiing takes place on Europe’s glaciers, but traveling to South America will be necessary as of the 2015 summer. In addition to training on the slopes, I also do physical training three times a week, I play in a soccer team and also enjoy playing tennis.

Unfortunately Portugal doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure and financial means to support my training and competition schedule. As I don’t live in Megève, I’m excluded from skiing in its ski club. As a result the cost of training, my equipment and my travel are entirely at my charge. For a full year I need more than €25’000.

In order to have a chance at being among the best at the Junior Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 2016 I need to continue training with this intensity during the next 18 months.

With your support I will be able to participate in the Junior Winter Olympics in 2016 and give a chance to Portugal to win a medal in the Winter Olympics for the first time in its history.

Here are my main achievements since 2010

2014

Coupe d'Argent, La Clusaz: 3rd in Slalom

Trophée Scarafiotti (European Championship) U16 category: 7th in Super-G (1st of the 1999 year of birth)

2103

No skiing due to back injury

2012

Etoile d'Or: 1st in Giant Slalom

Coq d'Or (equivalent of the French National Championship): 6th in  Giant Slalom

France National Championshps U14: 3rd in Super-G, 5th in Slalom et 10th in Skiercross

Trofeu Borrufa, Andorre: 1st in Giant Slalom and Super-G, 2nd in Slalom and Super-combined

Trofeo Topolino (World Championship): 15th in Giant Slalom

2011

Etoile d'Or: 1st in Giant Slalom

Trophée Scarafiotti (European Championships) U14 category: 25th (4th of the 1999 year of birth)

2010

Etoile d'Or (French Championship for city residents): 2nd in Giant Slalom and 1st of the Parallel Slalom