Lucas Pinheiro Braathen makes history and conquers the first winter Olympic gold for Brazil

Solda, Italy. – Brazil wrote an unprecedented page in world sport this Saturday thanks to the extraordinary performance of Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who was proclaimed Olympic champion of the alpine ski giant in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

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The competition was held on the demanding Stelvio slope in Bormio, where the 25-year-old skier delivered a dominant performance from the first run. Pinheiro recorded a total time of 2:25.00 minutes, surpassing Swiss Marco Odermatt, the current champion who could not retain his title, by 58 hundredths of a second. The bronze medal went to another representative of Switzerland, Loic Meillard, 1.17 seconds behind the winner.

A triumph loaded with emotion

Visibly emotional after crossing the finish line, Pinheiro could barely find words to describe the moment. “I don’t know what to say. I have so many emotions right now that I can’t find a way to express them,” declared the new Olympic champion, who dedicated the victory to his family, his work team, and the entire Brazilian people. “I am very proud and very grateful. Thanks to everyone, we have made history,” he added.

From Norway to Brazil: A Race of Reinvention

Born in Oslo, Pinheiro initially competed as Lucas Braathen representing Norway, a country for which he achieved five World Cup victories. However, after differences with the Norwegian federation, he surprisingly announced his retirement in 2023, shortly after winning the Slalom Crystal Globe. In March 2024, he decided to return to competition, this time defending the colors of Brazil, his mother’s nation. That same year, he began to set milestones for his new country: he achieved his first podium in Beaver Creek and, in November, he achieved the first Brazilian victory in the World Cup by winning the slalom in Levi. Now, in Milan-Cortina 2026, he reached the absolute peak by awarding Brazil its first gold in a Winter Olympics, consolidating the most important victory of his sporting career. On Monday, again in Bormio, Pinheiro will have the opportunity to expand his legend when he competes in the slalom event, where he will seek to add another medal for the Brazilian delegation.