Historic Gold: Brazil’s Alpine Skier Brings Winter Olympics Glory During Carnival

In a moment that merged the icy slopes of northern Italy with the pulsating rhythms of Brazil’s Carnival, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made Olympic history Saturday by capturing South America’s first-ever Winter Games medal – not just any medal, but gold in the men’s giant slalom.

As Brazil immersed itself in the pre-Lenten celebration that typically dominates national attention, Pinheiro Braathen’s unprecedented achievement broke through the Carnival news cycle, giving the country another reason to celebrate on the global stage.

“This has become one of my top five Brazil gold medals in Olympic history, no doubt,” said radio host and sports enthusiast Thiago Varella from Campinas, where Pinheiro Braathen has family connections. “He will be our skiing dude forever. Even people who don’t understand the sport now will come to admire his story and his Brazilian-ness.”

The victory resonated deeply in a country with no snow and little tradition in winter sports. In Milan, hundreds of green-and-gold clad supporters packed Brazil House, erupting into soccer-style chants and forming conga lines led by the Brazilian Olympic team’s mascot. They toasted with beer while enjoying traditional cheese bread served by Michelin-starred Brazilian chef Raphael Rego.

“We’re used to this feeling a lot in soccer, sometimes in volleyball, but it’s a winter sport, it’s a snow sport,” said Aline Fialho from Recife in Brazil’s northeast. “We don’t have snow in Brazil, so it’s a little bit surreal, but I feel very proud.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva quickly celebrated on social media: “This unprecedented result shows Brazilian sport has no limits. It is the reflection of talent, dedication and continuous work to strengthen sport in every dimension.”

In a country where soccer dominates the sporting landscape, alpine skiing would normally struggle for attention, especially during Carnival weekend. Yet Saturday morning saw the nation’s dominant TV network, Globo, broadcasting the alpine skiing alongside Carnival coverage starting at 6 a.m. local time.

After Pinheiro Braathen’s victory, the broadcast played “Tema da Victoria” (“Victory Theme”), a song deeply embedded in Brazilian culture as the soundtrack that accompanied Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna’s victories. “It is a Brazilian Carnival in the Italian snow!” declared TV Globo commentator Paulo Andrade.

In Rio de Janeiro, reactions ranged from curious to jubilant. Alexandre Novais, a 35-year-old driver in Rio’s upscale Ipanema neighborhood, was impressed that a Brazilian could compete in snow sports, a far cry from Rio’s 86-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. “I heard of him, I am glad he won,” said Novais. “I’m more of a soccer fan, but anyone who chooses to be Brazilian deserves our support.”

Pinheiro Braathen, 25, known in Brazil as “O cara do ski” (the skiing dude), competed for Norway until 2023 before switching to represent his mother’s homeland. He has fully embraced his Brazilian heritage, conducting interviews in Portuguese and decorating his helmet with “Vamos Dançar” (“Let’s Dance”). He has cited soccer, not skiing, as his entry point to sports, with Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldinho as his first hero.

His achievement adds to Brazil’s recent international recognition beyond its traditional cultural exports. The nation celebrated its first-ever Academy Award last year when “I’m Still Here” won best international feature, while “The Secret Agent” has been nominated for four Oscars this year, including best picture.

“We are showing that we are more than samba and soccer,” said Giovana Biondo, a São Paulo native volunteering at the Games. “We love both and we are still very good at both. But I think it’s really sending a message to the whole planet that we are more than the Carnival.”

After his triumph, Pinheiro Braathen dedicated his victory to everyone supporting him in Brazil: “This can be a point of inspiration for the next generation of children, showing them that nothing is impossible. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. What matters is what’s inside. What the heart does. I bring Brazilian strength today to bring this flag to the podium. This is Brazil’s.”