Sao Paulo [Brazil], February 17 (HBTV): In a landmark moment for Brazilian winter sport, alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen secured the country’s first-ever Winter Olympics medal, winning gold in the giant slalom at the Milan-Cortina Games on Saturday, as cited by Brasil 247.
The giant slalom features two timed runs down a snow course marked by widely spaced poles known as gates, placed roughly 25 metres apart. Athletes must pass between them, with the lowest combined time determining the winner.
Born in Oslo to a Norwegian father and Brazilian mother, the 25-year-old clocked a combined time of 2 minutes 25 seconds, finishing 0.58 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, who claimed silver. Fellow Swiss skier Loic Meillard secured bronze.
Braathen led after the opening run with a time of 1:13.92. Although he managed only the 11th fastest time in the second run at 1:11.08, his earlier advantage proved decisive, keeping him ahead of the Swiss pair.
The victory capped a notable journey. Braathen previously represented Norway and competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics but did not finish his events. He retired from competition in 2023 before returning a year later and switching allegiance to Brazil, his mother’s homeland. By 2025, he had already reached Alpine Skiing World Cup podiums, setting the stage for his Olympic triumph.
Before this achievement, Brazil’s best Winter Olympics result came at the Turin 2006 Games, where snowboarder Isabel Clark finished ninth in snowboard cross.
Another Brazilian competitor in Saturday’s race, Giovanni Ongaro, who was born in Italy, placed 31st with a time of 2:34.15.
Brazil’s participation continues on Monday with the slalom event, which features tighter gate spacing of about 13 metres. Braathen will be joined by Ongaro and Christian Soevik, a Rio-born athlete of Norwegian-Brazilian heritage.
Braathen’s victory marks a significant moment for Brazil’s winter sports programme, broadening the country’s sporting presence beyond traditional summer disciplines.
(ANI)