Brazil Celebrates Historic Winter Olympic Gold Medal Victory
On a day when Rio de Janeiro faced excessive heat warnings, Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen carved through a Bormio blizzard to secure his nation's first ever Winter Olympic medal. The 25-year-old's triumph in the men's giant slalom not only marked Brazil's inaugural podium finish but also represented the first Winter Games medal for any South American country in history.
A Momentous Victory Against All Odds
Pinheiro Braathen overcame Swiss favourite Marco Odermatt to claim the gold medal, celebrating his historic achievement with a samba dance at the bottom of the formidable Stelvio course. As green, blue and yellow Brazilian flags waved proudly in the stands, the result propelled Brazil—a nation with average temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius—ahead of Iceland on the all-time Winter Olympic medals table.
"I'm not even sure if I can grasp the reality as I stand here," an emotional Pinheiro Braathen confessed after his victory. "It's hard to translate my emotions into words, totally impossible."
Inspiring Future Generations
The champion expressed hope that his achievement would motivate young Brazilians, stating: "I hope I can inspire some kids in Brazil, that despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow a dream and just be who they are. That's the real source of happiness in life."
Born in Oslo to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father, Pinheiro Braathen represented Norway until 2023 when disputes with the country's ski federation prompted his initial retirement, followed by his decision to switch allegiance to Brazil. At the time of this transition, he held the world number one ranking in slalom skiing.
Brazil's Winter Sports Journey
Despite snow being limited to occasional dustings in its southern regions, Brazil has maintained consistent Winter Olympic participation since its debut at Albertville in 1992. The nation's 14-strong squad for the Milan and Cortina Games included skeleton racer Nicole Silveira, who has achieved three World Cup podiums, while Brazil has fielded a four-man bobsleigh team at all but one Winter Games since 2002.
The landscape for winter sports has evolved significantly from earlier eras when warm-weather nations were often considered unlikely contenders. Pinheiro Braathen's victory represents a new chapter for countries without traditional winter sports infrastructure.
A High-Profile Champion
Already a prominent figure in Brazil, Pinheiro Braathen maintains a high-profile relationship with model and soap opera star Isadora Cruz. His historic race was broadcast live across Brazil by the Globo network, which holds the nation's Winter Olympic broadcasting rights.
On the podium, wearing his distinctive Brazilian jacket, Pinheiro Braathen stood flanked by two Swiss competitors. For silver medallist Marco Odermatt—who boasts 53 World Cup victories including four consecutive overall giant slalom titles—the result represented further disappointment at these Games.
The Race That Made History
Odermatt trailed Pinheiro Braathen by nearly a second after the initial run and, despite mounting intense pressure during the second descent, the Brazilian maintained his composure to secure victory by 0.58 seconds. Upon crossing the finish line, Pinheiro Braathen collapsed to the ground in relief and celebration.
"There is nothing about this I can quite believe," the champion reflected. "I was skiing completely according to my intuition and my heart, and that's what enabled me to become Olympic champion."
This landmark achievement follows Pinheiro Braathen's previous milestone in 2024 when he became the first Brazilian to reach an alpine skiing World Cup podium in a giant slalom race at Beaver Creek, Colorado. His journey from Norwegian skier to Brazilian Olympic champion has now culminated in one of the most remarkable stories in Winter Olympic history.
