Lucas Braathen made history. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Brazil celebrates its first Winter Olympic champion

Following Lucas Pinheiro Braathen's historic Olympic victory and Brazil's first winter medal, politicians and sports stars from the country congratulated the ski racer.

February 15, 2026

From: dpa

"This unprecedented result shows that Brazilian sport knows no boundaries," wrote President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the platform. XIt is the result of "talent, dedication and continuous work to strengthen sport in all its dimensions."

Braathen's victory in the Bormio giant slalom secured Brazil's first medal, and the first medal ever for a South American, at the Winter Olympics. The 25-year-old beat Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt by 0,58 seconds, relegating him to second place. The success broadens the horizons of national sport, Lula added. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad also offered his congratulations, writing, "Go Brazil!"

Everyone is thrilled

São Paulo football club wrote: "Historic! Brazil's first medal at the Winter Olympics." German record champions Bayern Munich, in their Brazil section, declared: "Congratulations on Brazil's historic gold medal." Brazilian professional surfer Gabriel Medina, who became world-famous through a spectacular photo taken at the 2024 Olympics, also offered his congratulations: "Congratulations Lucas! Proud of Brazil."

Lucas Braathen made history. © APA / EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER

The sports portal Ge Globo wrote: “Gold medal! History is being made! What an emotion!” The tabloid newspaper Half an hour Braathen “breaks a paradigm and gives hope for advancing winter sports in Brazil,” he commented.

Pinheiro Braathen, born in Norway, has competed for Brazil, his mother's home country, since 2024. He is one of the most flamboyant figures in the Alpine Ski World Cup. In the weeks leading up to the Winter Games in Italy, he was already in excellent form, reaching the podium three times in a row in the giant slalom.