Brazil's Alpine Skiing Gold Sparks 'Carnival in the Snow' Celebrations
As Brazil immerses itself in the vibrant festivities of Carnival, Alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has delivered an extraordinary reason for national jubilation: a historic gold medal at the Winter Olympics. On Saturday, 14 February 2026, the 25-year-old athlete, affectionately known in Brazil as "O cara do ski" or "the skiing dude," secured the first-ever Winter Games medal for any South American country, and it was the coveted gold.
A Historic Victory Amidst Carnival Revelry
Pinheiro Braathen's triumph occurred on the inaugural full day of Carnival, a pre-Lenten celebration that typically dominates Brazilian headlines with its street parties and samba rhythms. Despite many citizens being engrossed in the bacchanal, his gold-medal achievement swiftly displaced Carnival news from top spots on major websites, sparking widespread commemoration. This win adds to a series of recent global successes for Brazil, offering what some perceive as long-overdue recognition on the world stage.
Radio host and sports enthusiast Thiago Varella, 41, from Campinas—a city where Pinheiro Braathen has family ties and spent childhood vacations—hailed the victory as one of Brazil's top five Olympic golds in history. "He will be our skiing dude forever," Varella told The Associated Press. "Even people who don’t understand the sport now will come to admire his story and his Brazilian-ness."
Celebrations from Milan to Rio de Janeiro
In Milan, hundreds of fans gathered at Brazil House, a venue organized by the Brazilian Olympic committee, erupting in cheers, toasting with beer bottles, and chanting Lucas' name in soccer-style rhythms. Michelin-starred Brazilian chef Raphael Rego served warm cheese bread, a traditional breakfast item, before dancing to samba alongside Bruno Fratus, a bronze medalist swimmer from the Tokyo Summer Games. Attendees, adorned in green-and-gold attire, joined a conga line led by Ginga, the Brazilian Olympic team's mascot.
Aline Fialho from Recife in northeast Brazil expressed pride in the surreal achievement, noting, "We’re used to this feeling a lot in soccer, sometimes in volleyball, but it’s a winter sport, it’s a snow sport. We don’t have snow in Brazil, so it’s a little bit surreal, but I feel very proud."
Waking Up to a Winter Sports Milestone
Brazil, a soccer-mad nation of 213 million, traditionally excels in Summer Olympics but has struggled in ice and snow events. Even on a non-Carnival weekend, skiing was unlikely to top most Brazilians' minds. However, excitement grew as the nation awoke to the possibility of his success. At 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, Globo, Brazil's dominant TV network, broadcast alpine skiing alongside Carnival coverage.
After Pinheiro Braathen's final run, Globo played "Tema da Victoria" ("Victory Theme" in Portuguese), a song synonymous with national hero and Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna, underscoring the victory's significance. TV Globo commentator Paulo Andrade declared, "It is a Brazilian Carnival in the Italian snow!"
In Rio de Janeiro, reactions ranged from curiosity to celebration. Driver Alexandre Novais, 35, stopping at a gas station in the upscale Ipanema neighborhood, expressed admiration for any Brazilian competing in snow, contrasting it with Rio's 30°C (86°F) heat. "I heard of him, I am glad he won," Novais said. "I'm more of a soccer fan, but anyone who chooses to be Brazilian deserves our support."
Nathalia Martínez, a 25-year-old Colombian in Rio for Carnival, witnessed the joyous outburst in her hotel lobby and felt proud seeing Pinheiro Braathen emotional on the podium. "That’s 100% Latin America. No Norwegian athlete would be so emotional," she remarked, adding curiosity about whether Brazilians might incorporate skiing gear into Carnival costumes.
Embracing Brazilian Heritage and Global Recognition
Pinheiro Braathen, who previously competed for Norway before switching to Brazil last season and adding his mother's surname, has wholeheartedly embraced his Brazilian roots. He gives interviews in Portuguese and adorns his helmet with "Vamos Dançar" ("Let’s Dance"). He credits soccer, not skiing, as his sports starting point, with World Cup winner Ronaldinho as his first hero.
His Olympic quest aligns with Brazil's recent global achievements, challenging long-held perceptions of underappreciation. The term "mongrel complex," coined by writer Nelson Rodrigues in 1950 to describe Brazil's sense of inferiority, is gradually fading. Recent successes include the Oscar-winning film "I’m Still Here" and nominations for "The Secret Agent," alongside Pinheiro Braathen's skiing glory.
Supporters in Milan, like Giovana Biondo from Sao Paulo, a Games volunteer, emphasized that this victory showcases Brazil beyond stereotypes. "We are showing that we are more than samba and football," Biondo said. "We love both and we are still very good at both. But I think it’s really sending a message to the whole planet that we are more than the Carnival."
After his win, Pinheiro Braathen told Globo he aimed to share his victory with all Brazilians cheering for him. "This can be a point of inspiration for the next generation of children, showing them that nothing is impossible. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. What matters is what’s inside. What the heart does," he said. "I bring Brazilian strength today to bring this flag to the podium. This is Brazil’s."
