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.

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

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

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men’s giant slalom, earning Brazil’s first Winter Olympic medal and the first for any South American athlete.

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.

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.

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.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen makes history for Brazil by clinching his nation's first Winter Olympic medal with gold in the giant slalom.