Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won Alpine skiing giant slalom gold on Saturday (14 February) at Milano Cortina 2026, making him the first Brazilian and first South American ever to claim a medal at the Winter Games. The 25-year-old delivered a powerful final run on the technical Stelvio course, beating Swiss racer Marco Odermatt, the defending Olympic champion, by 0.58 seconds.
Born in Oslo to a Norwegian father and Brazilian mother, Braathen's road to Olympic glory saw him build upon his early promise to become one of the greatest Alpine skiers in the world after stepping away from Norway and choosing to represent his mother's homeland of Brazil. This wasn't just a personal victory—with Brazil entering the joyous throes of Carnival, the 25-year-old gave the nation another reason to celebrate with the first-ever medal at the Winter Games for any country in South America, and not just any medal: Gold.
The emotional moment resonated far beyond the finish line. "I was skiing completely according to my intuition, and my heart today, and that's what enabled me to become an Olympic champ," Braathen told reporters after the race. "I hope I can inspire some kids out there that, despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are. Because that is the real source of happiness in life."
After making history for Brazil in Sunday's giant slalom, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen goes again in Monday's slalom in pursuit of a second Olympic gold at Milano Cortina 2026. The alpine skiing events continue through the competition, with alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics held between 7 and 18 February 2026. You can check out our full coverage of Braathen's giant slalom victory for more details on this historic achievement.