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In a historic display of composure, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed the men’s giant slalom gold in Bormio on Saturday, securing Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal and the first for all of Latin America.
Braathen, who led after the first run, maintained his focus through a challenging second leg to finish with an aggregate time of 2:25.00.
He edged out Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, who took silver, while Swiss teammate Loic Meillard rounded out the podium with the bronze.
The victory marks a triumphant and emotional chapter for the 25-year-old, who was born in Oslo to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother.
After a highly publicised fallout with the Norwegian ski federation over sponsorship rights, Braathen stepped away from the sport before returning in late 2024 to compete under the Brazilian flag.
Following his win, an emotional Braathen embraced his father, Bjorn, attributing the success to his decision to “ski according to my intuition and my heart.”
The race itself was a battle of nerves in increasingly cold and snowy conditions on the notorious Stelvio course.
While veteran racers like Henrik Kristoffersen and Atle Lie McGrath posted strong times, they were ultimately eclipsed by the Swiss duo.
Odermatt, seeking his first gold of these Games, delivered a blistering second run to take a temporary lead, leaving only Braathen at the top of the mountain.
The Brazilian responded with the 11th fastest second run—a calculated performance that allowed him to preserve his lead and finish comfortably ahead.
This gold medal shatters previous records for South American winter athletes, far surpassing the ninth-place finish achieved by snowboarder Isabel Clark Ribeiro in 2006.
By choosing to represent his mother’s homeland, Braathen has transformed from a European standout into a continental icon, proving that he remains one of the world’s elite skiers despite his unconventional path to the Olympic podium.
