Skier 'Not Even Able to Grasp' Winning Brazil's First-Ever Winter Olympics Medal with a Historic Gold in Giant Slalom
- - Skier 'Not Even Able to Grasp' Winning Brazil's First-Ever Winter Olympics Medal with a Historic Gold in Giant Slalom
Natasha DyeFebruary 15, 2026 at 1:12 AM
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Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil on Feb. 14, 2026
Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP via Getty
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen gave Brazil their first-ever medal in a Winter Olympics on Saturday, Feb. 14 when he won gold in the men's giant slalom
Braathen beat out Marco Odermatt of Switzerland, who was the favorite to win gold, by 0.58 seconds in the race, while Loic Meillard, also of Switzerland, took bronze
After the win, Braathen said he's "not even able to grasp reality" and hopes he can "inspire some kids out there"
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen brought home the gold medal for Brazil in giant slalom, the first-ever medal for his country at a Winter Olympics.
Pinheiro Braathen, 25, passed the finish line at Stelvio Ski Centre in two minutes and 25 seconds on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Bormio, coming in just 0.58 seconds before Swiss star Marco Odermatt, who was largely expected to win gold in the race.
Pinheiro Braathen previously represented Norway in Beijing in 2022, but switched allegiance to Brazil, his mother's native country and the place where he fell in love with skiing as a kid.
After the historic victory, the athlete told reporters he's "not even able to grasp reality as I stand here right now."
"I am just trying to get some sort of emotion here and translate it into words, even though it's absolutely impossible," he said.
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen on Feb. 14, 2026
Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP via Getty
Pinheiro Braathen, who failed to finish his races in Beijing, said he was "skiing completely according to my intuition, and my heart today, and that's what enabled me to become an Olympic champ."
"It had nothing to do with the medal, it had nothing to do with the history that I had the potential of writing," he said. "I just wanted to ski as the person I am. I know I can be the best in the world, if I do that to the greatest extent."
The gold medalist, who collapsed to the ground in an emotional moment after crossing the finish line, hopes his victory "can inspire some kids out there" to pursue their goals.
"Despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are," he said. "Because that is the real source of happiness in life."
Silver medalist Odermatt spoke about losing the gold to Pinheiro Braathen, telling reporters, "Somehow, we knew that Lucas could just beat himself in the second run, with this one-second advantage after his amazing first run but still we tried to attack."
"We did, all three Swiss racers, we came in with a green light. We also hoped for a triple victory, for sure but Lucas handled it pretty well, and skied down," said Odermatt. 28.
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
