Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen secured a historic gold medal in the men's giant slalom at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday, marking South America's first-ever Winter Games podium finish. The 25-year-old clocked a combined time of 2:25.00, outpacing Switzerland's Marco Odermatt by 0.58 seconds in a thrilling alpine showdown.
Pinheiro Braathen, who switched allegiance from Norway to Brazil in 2024 to honor his maternal heritage, described the victory as "simply impossible" to articulate. His win coincides with Brazil's vibrant Carnival season, celebrated symbolically through his helmet inscription: "Vamos Dancar" (Let's Dance).
Defending champion Odermatt earned his third medal of the 2026 Games with silver, adding to earlier team combined silver and Super-G bronze wins. "Three medals is amazing," the Swiss athlete remarked, acknowledging the fierce competition.
This breakthrough highlights growing winter sports participation across tropical nations, with Pinheiro Braathen's technical precision on the Cortina d'Ampezzo slopes rewriting regional sporting narratives. Analysts predict the achievement could spur infrastructure investments and youth programs in South American mountain regions.
