In a historic moment for winter sports, Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen captured the Olympic giant slalom gold medal on Saturday, delivering South America’s first-ever Winter Games medal. The 25-year-old athlete mastered the challenging Stelvio course in Bormio, Italy, overcoming falling snow and dense fog to finish with a combined two-run time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds.
Pinheiro Braathen’s victory margin of 0.58 seconds secured his triumph over defending Olympic champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland, who claimed silver. Odermatt’s teammate Loic Meillard completed the podium with bronze.
The emotional champion collapsed onto the snow in celebration upon seeing his top-ranked position, later explaining his mindset during the decisive run: “I was pulling, pulling, always pulling, trying to find where to step, always trying to find the rhythm. I was skiing with my heart, and when you ski the way you are, anything is possible.”
Pinheiro Braathen’s background reflects his unique journey—born to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father, he initially competed for Norway before unexpectedly retiring prior to the 2023 season. His return to competitive skiing representing Brazil just one year later has culminated in this extraordinary achievement.
The victory carries special significance during Brazil’s Carnival season, a connection highlighted by the skier’s helmet inscription “Vamos Dancar” (Let’s Dance) and his reputation as a samba-dancing, fun-loving competitor. Brazilian supporters at “Casa Brasil” in Milan erupted in celebration, with the venue playing both Queen’s “We Are The Champions” and traditional samba music.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recognized the achievement on social media, stating: “This unprecedented result shows Brazilian sport has no limits. It is the reflection of talent, dedication and continuous work to strengthen sport in every dimension.”
The victory adds to Pinheiro Braathen’s growing legacy as a pioneer for Brazilian winter sports, having previously become the first Brazilian Alpine racer to reach a World Cup podium last year and securing the country’s first World Cup win this season.