Lucas Pinheiro Makes History with Brazil's First Crystal Globe Win in Alpine Skiing
Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro wins historic Crystal Globe title in giant slalom, becoming world number one in the discipline.
- • Lucas Pinheiro won the Crystal Globe in giant slalom at Lillehammer, March 24, 2026.
- • He leads the world rankings with 547 points, surpassing Marco Odermatt.
- • Pinheiro recorded a total time of 2min20s65 with fastest runs in both stages.
- • He won gold in giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics, first Brazilian and South American to do so.
- • His achievement was celebrated by President Lula and Sports Minister André Fufuca, marking a milestone for Brazilian winter sports.
Key details
On March 24, 2026, Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen achieved a historic milestone by winning the Crystal Globe title in the giant slalom at the World Cup event held in Lillehammer. This victory not only marked his first Crystal Globe in giant slalom but also propelled him to the top of the world rankings for this discipline with 547 points, overtaking Swiss skier Marco Odermatt who remained at 495 points after failing to complete the decisive race.
Pinheiro's performance was exceptional, posting the fastest times in both runs, clocking 1min11s24 in the first and 1min09s41 in the second, culminating in a total time of 2min20s65. Swiss skier Loïc Meillard finished second, and Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath took third place. Lucas, who has a Norwegian father and Brazilian mother, chose to represent Brazil internationally and has steadily risen in alpine skiing prominence, previously winning gold in the giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. This Olympic gold was a significant milestone as he became the first Brazilian and South American to win this event.
His recent achievements have garnered recognition from Brazilian authorities, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Minister of Sports André Fufuca highlighting the importance of Lucas’s success for the growth of winter sports in Brazil. Currently, alongside leading the giant slalom rankings, Pinheiro is second overall in the World Cup standings with 1,058 points, although Odermatt has clinched the overall title for the season. Prior to this giant slalom triumph, Lucas had already secured a Crystal Globe in slalom in 2023, previously representing Norway, underscoring Brazil’s emerging presence on the global winter sports stage.
Lucas Pinheiro’s unprecedented success signifies a landmark moment for Brazilian athletics, expanding the nation’s sporting achievements beyond its traditional strongholds and inspiring the future of winter sports in Brazil.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
