MILAN, Italy – History was made at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday as Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil secured gold in the men’s giant slalom, marking the first-ever Winter Olympic medal for a South American nation. The victory ends a 102-year drought for the continent in the Winter Games, inspiring hopes for future generations of athletes. Meanwhile, American speedskater Jordan Stolz continued his dominant performance, adding another gold medal to his tally.
The win by Pinheiro Braathen, who previously competed for Norway, is a landmark achievement for Brazilian winter sports. He finished with a combined time of 2:25.00, besting Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and Loic Meillard. “I’m not even able to grasp reality, as I stand here right now,” Pinheiro Braathen said after his win, as reported by NBC Philadelphia. “I am just trying to get some sort of emotion here and translate it into words, even though it’s absolutely impossible.”
Pinheiro Braathen’s journey to Olympic gold is unique. Born to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother, he skied for Norway before deciding to represent his mother’s homeland. He had three consecutive World Cup giant slalom runner-up finishes entering the Games, establishing him as a strong contender. He expressed hope that his victory would inspire young athletes, stating, “inspire some kids out there that, despite what they wear, despite how they glance, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are. Because that is the real source of happiness in life.”
