Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men's giant slalom on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Italy, during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 25-year-old skier posted a combined two-run time of 2:25.00, finishing 0.58 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, who took silver. Switzerland's Loïc Meillard earned bronze with a time of 2:26.17.
Braathen built a commanding lead in the first run, clocking 1:13.92 to finish nearly a full second ahead of Odermatt. He held firm in the second run despite pressure from the Swiss stars, maintaining his edge through fog and challenging conditions to cross the line in jubilation.
Braathen was born in Oslo to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father. He raced for Norway until 2024, then chose to represent Brazil. His win ends decades of Brazil's Winter Olympic drought and gives South America its first medal in these Games.
After crossing the finish line, Braathen collapsed onto the snow in celebration before kissing his gold medal on the podium. He later described the moment as overwhelming, stating he was "not even able to grasp reality" as the achievement sank in.
Braathen has proven himself as one of the best in technical events like giant slalom. Odermatt, the Olympic champion from 2022 and a top name in the sport, had to settle for silver in a hard-fought race.
Brazil has been investing in winter sports and athlete training, and now it has paid off. Braathen's gold is proof that determination and talent can break through old barriers. His win is a milestone for Brazil and South America.