Once a racer for Norway, Pinheiro Braathen switched to Brazil, his mother's home country. In winning the Olympic giant slalom on Saturday, he earned South America's first medal at a Winter Games.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen became the first South American to win a Winter Olympics medal after he earned gold during Saturday's men's giant slalom. The 25-year-old Pinheiro Braathen, who is ranked second in the world in slalom and giant slalom, recorded a combined time of 2:25.00, 0.58 better than 2022 gold medalist Marco Odermatt to win the event.

Brazil danced after winning their first Winter Olympics gold medal while Canada is still trying to win their first.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen said it was "absolutely impossible" to try and convey his emotions after his big win

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led the way as Brazil saluted skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen who won the nation's first ever medal, a gold, at the Winter Olympics. Lula said on X that Braathen's giant slalom triumph in Bormio,

Braathen won Brazil’s first-ever Winter Games medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen enters the Winter Olympics as a legitimate medal contender in Alpine skiing, with a chance to become the first Brazilian and South American to win a Winter Olympics medal after switching allegiance from Norway.