Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Makes Olympic Winter Games History

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed gold in the Giant Slalom at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, defeating big favorite and defending Olympic Champion Marco Odermatt and his teammate Loic Meillard to claim Brazil's first gold at the Winter Olympics.

The Norwegian-born skier, now representing Brazil, secured victory thanks to his flawless first run. The 25-year-old exploited his first starting position with bib number one, laying down a run that leaves the competition in awe. Odermatt finished almost a second behind (+0.95). Pinheiro Braathen kept his composure in the second run and became only the second athlete, after Italy's Alberto Tomba in Calgary in 1998, to win Olympic gold in the Giant slalom after starting with bib number one.

It was also Braathen's first medal at the Winter Games since his DNFs in the Giant Slalom and Slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

"I don’t know what to say. I’m so proud and so grateful for everything. I have so many emotions. The medal is the result of being authentic and skiing as the person I am," he said.