With Brazil entering the joyous throes of Carnival, Alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen on Saturday gave it another reason to celebrate — an Olympic medal. It was the first-ever medal at the Winter Games for any country in South America. And not just any medal: Gold.

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.

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,

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen makes Winter Olympic history for Brazil - Gold in the giant slalom was Brazil’s – and indeed South America’s – first medal at the Winter Games.

Winter Olympics history was made on Saturday, February 14, when Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won gold in the men’s giant slalom, beating alpine skiing great Marco Odermatt of Switzerland.

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

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

Alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil wins giant slalom at the Milan Cortina Games, and Brazil could add another medal from skeleton competitor Nicole Rocha Silveira

Another Brazilian athlete, Nicole Rocha Silveira, could earn another medal on Saturday when she races in the women's skeleton event.

Burgener’s debut with the Brazilian team this year coincided with that of Alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, whose gold medal Saturday earned South America its first-ever medal in a Winter Olympics. Pinheiro Braathen until 2023 competed for Norway, switching to Brazil last season and adding his mother’s surname.