Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Wins Historic Alpine Ski Gold for Brazil at 2026 Winter Olympics
On February 14, 2026 (ET), Lucas Pinheiro Braathen clinched gold in the men's giant slalom, marking the first Winter Olympic gold medal for Brazil and the wider Latin American region. The Norwegian-born skier's decision to compete for Brazil has been called a decisive turning point in his career.
Historic victory for Brazil and Latin America
Braathen's triumph in the giant slalom delivered a milestone rarely imagined in alpine skiing: a Latin American athlete standing atop the Winter Games podium. Carrying the Brazilian flag, Braathen completed the event with an official time of 2: 25. 00, etching his name into Olympic history and giving Brazil its inaugural Winter Olympic gold.
Born in Norway to a Brazilian mother, Braathen has framed the nationality switch as more than a sporting decision. He described the moment of hearing the Brazilian national anthem played among the alpine peaks as a source of immense pride, saying it symbolized the "unconditional support and love" he felt from his mother's homeland. Braathen added that the major change in his career was "absolutely necessary, " and expressed hope that his victory would inspire Brazilians to "become who they can be. "
Race dynamics and decisive margins
Braathen produced a commanding first run that set the foundation for his overall victory, leaving even the pre-race favorites chasing a significant deficit. Switzerland's Marco Odermatt finished with the silver, trailing Braathen by 0. 95 seconds — a margin large enough to underscore how dominant Braathen's combined runs were. Loïc Meillard rounded out the podium with bronze, giving Switzerland two medals in the event.
Odermatt acknowledged the difficulty of overcoming the lead established after the opening run but celebrated his own Olympic program, which included a silver in giant slalom and a bronze in the super-G. Meillard, who paired with Odermatt on Switzerland's team for a strong showing in the newly introduced mixed team event, also played a key role in his country's podium finishes.
Significance for Braathen and the sport
The path to this gold was unusual. Braathen parted ways with his original national ski federation during the 2023–24 season and stepped away from the World Cup circuit before returning to competition as a Brazilian athlete in October 2024. That bold move now appears vindicated: a change in national representation that some viewed as risky has culminated in Olympic glory.
Beyond personal vindication, Braathen's win could expand the narrative of alpine skiing's reach. For nations without winter sport traditions, his success offers a vivid example that elite performance is possible with the right combination of talent, opportunity and personal conviction. Braathen himself voiced the hope that his achievement will encourage others to pursue their potential, regardless of the conventional expectations tied to geography or climate.
As the Games continue, Braathen's gold will be remembered not only for its rarity but for the personal story behind it: a Norwegian-born skier embracing his Brazilian heritage on the world's biggest winter stage and rewriting the record books in the process.
