BORMIO, Italy : Day 8 of the Winter Olympics 2026 delivered a historic breakthrough as Lucas Pinheiro Braathen clinched gold in the men’s giant slalom, earning Brazil and South America their first-ever Winter Olympic medal.
According to live coverage by CNN, Braathen dominated across two runs on the challenging Stelvio course, finishing with a combined time that placed him 0.58 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s defending Olympic champion Marco Odermatt, who settled for silver.
Braathen led after the opening run and maintained his composure in the second, navigating the technical lower sections with precision to secure the landmark victory.
“This is for Brazil and for everyone who dreams big,” Braathen said, as quoted by CNN after the race.
Men’s Giant Slalom – Final Standings
Gold: Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (Brazil)
Silver: Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) – +0.58 sec
Event: Men’s Giant Slalom
Venue: Bormio, Italy
Born in Norway to a Brazilian mother, Braathen’s switch of allegiance now stands as one of the most significant decisions in Winter Games history. Day 8 in Milano-Cortina will be remembered as the day South America finally arrived on the Winter Olympic podium — and at the very top.
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