Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Leads Giant Slalom — South America's Longshot for a Winter Olympic Medal
Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen took the early lead in the men's giant slalom Saturday and has placed himself in prime position to make history: the continent of South America has never won a Winter Olympic medal. Meanwhile, skeleton racer Nicole Rocha Silveira heads into her Olympic runs with a realistic shot at joining him in the record books.
Braathen tops the field after the first run
On the Stelvio course in Bormio, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen posted a fast opening run of 1: 13. 92 and finished the first pass with a 0. 95-second cushion over a returning Olympic champion. The final run is scheduled for later the same day (Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 ET) with the top 30 skiers returning in reverse order, meaning Braathen will close the field as the 30th starter.
What a medal would mean for South America
A podium for Brazil would be unprecedented for South America at the Winter Games. Braathen’s lead after the first run not only raises the possibility of a first continental medal but also shifts attention to nations not traditionally associated with winter sport strength. The combination of his World Cup form and a calm opening run gives Brazil a genuine shot as the second-leg run approaches.
From Norway’s slalom star to Brazil’s samba skier
Born in Oslo to a Brazilian mother and a Norwegian father, Braathen rose through the Norwegian system and at one point was the world’s top-ranked slalom skier. A shock retirement at 23, days before the start of a season, was followed by a dramatic personal pivot: he decamped to Brazil, rethought his future and eventually sought release to race for the country of his mother. Since switching national allegiances he has embraced Brazil’s colors and culture on the world circuit — breaking into samba celebrations after podiums and wearing “Vamos Dancar” on his helmet as a playful rallying cry.
Silveira chases history in skeleton
Nicole Rocha Silveira, who moved from southern Brazil to Canada as a child, is contending in the women’s skeleton in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Ranked among the top 10 in the world, she has multiple World Cup podiums and a fourth-place finish at the 2025 World Championships. Her event unfolds across two days of competition (Friday and Saturday ET), with four total runs combining to decide the medals. Silveira carried the Brazilian flag during the Games’ opening celebrations and competes with a helmet that carries a vivid symbol of her dual life: a Brazilian parrot wearing a stethoscope, a nod to her work as a nurse in Calgary.
What to watch in the closing runs
For Braathen, the pressure will be mounting as he returns late in the start order: course wear and shifting light can alter conditions and turn a lead into a scramble. His technical skill in both slalom and giant slalom gives him tools to defend the top spot, but challengers who close fast on polished snow can swing results dramatically. In skeleton, consistency over four runs is essential; the smallest error on the iced track can erase a day’s worth of speed.
Legacy and national pride
Both athletes embody hybrid sporting stories — trained and developed in Northern Hemisphere programs but choosing to represent Brazil on the biggest stage. Whether or not either reaches the podium, their presence has already elevated the profile of winter sports in Brazil and across South America. For now, all eyes remain on the final runs later Saturday (ET), where history could be rewritten in a matter of minutes.
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