Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins Brazil and South America first Winter Olympic medal

On 14 February 2026, at the Stelvio Ski Centre, Brazil Lucas Pinheiro Braathen carved his name into Olympic history. Winning the men giant slalom, the 25-year-old delivered Brazil and the whole of South America their first ever medal at an Olympic Winter Games, ending a wait that stretched across 102 years and 26 editions of the Games.

The race was a thriller. Braathen put down a blistering first run, almost a full second clear of the field, then held his nerve in the second to finish 0.58 seconds ahead of Switzerland defending Olympic champion Marco Odermatt, with Loïc Meillard taking bronze. His combined time of 2 minutes and 25 seconds capped a streak of ten consecutive top-five finishes coming into the Games.

Braathen story is one of identity and belonging. Born in Oslo to a Brazilian mother and a Norwegian father, he originally raced for Norway and won World Cup medals before stepping away from the sport in 2023. He returned in 2024 to compete for Brazil, his mother home country, choosing to honour her heritage. That decision turned a personal journey into a national milestone.

For a country with no winter sports tradition and barely any snow, the gold is far more than a result on a scoreboard. It is proof that talent and determination can flourish anywhere, and that the map of who belongs at the top of winter sport is still being redrawn. Braathen victory is likely to inspire a new generation of young Brazilians to dream beyond the boundaries others might set for them.