Lucas Pinheiro Braathen’s Historic Winter Olympic Gold Sparks New Era for Brazilian Winter Sports

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history on February 14, 2026, by winning Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in giant slalom at the Milan-Cortina Games. His victory stands out not only as a milestone for the nation but also as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the growth of winter sports in Brazil, a country traditionally known for its tropical climate and limited infrastructure for snow sports.

Braathen, 25, who represents Brazil despite his Norwegian father, arrived at the Games ranked second in the world in his discipline and had a series of World Cup podiums prior to his gold. This accomplishment marks the first medal for any Latin American country in Winter Olympics history. Prior bests for Brazil included Isabel Clark’s ninth place in snowboard cross in 2006 and Argentina’s fourth place in bobsleigh in 1928, underscoring the historical significance of Braathen’s win.

Brazilian winter sports veterans celebrated the achievement enthusiastically. Edson Bindilatti, preparing for his sixth Olympics in bobsledding, remarked on the evolution of winter sports within Brazil, noting, “We fought so hard for winter sports in Brazil. Today we have a fantastic structure and a new vision from the Olympic Committee...which is important for future development and more medals.” Jaqueline Mourão, Brazil’s most experienced Winter Olympian, highlighted the victory’s symbolic value, saying it represents perseverance and embodies the struggles Brazilian winter athletes have faced.

Alongside Braathen’s triumph, Nicole Silveira set a new benchmark for Brazil by finishing 11th in the women’s skeleton event—the country’s best result ever in that sport. Silveira hopes Braathen’s success will motivate more Brazilians to participate in winter disciplines. “This medal is the best way to showcase the Olympics and winter sports to people,” Silveira stated.

Despite Brazil’s lack of cold-weather tradition and reliance on overseas training, Braathen’s gold could increase interest, attract sponsorships, and develop new talent, especially in indoor winter sports like ice hockey and figure skating, which have already shown recent growth. His heartfelt and inspirational post-victory speech also serves as a strong message against xenophobia, urging respect towards foreign athletes and coaches involved in Brazilian sports.

Going forward, Braathen’s victory may well be the catalyst that transforms Brazil’s winter sports landscape, fostering a new generation of athletes and broadening the nation’s sporting horizons beyond its historic football and summer sports dominance.