Braathen Shocks Odermatt to Win Olympic Giant Slalom Gold – Milan Cortina 2026

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil secured the gold medal in the men’s giant slalom at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, marking the first Olympic gold for Brazil in Winter Games history. The 25-year-old completed the two runs with a total time of 2:25.00, surpassing pre-competition favorite Marco Odermatt of Switzerland.

Braathen’s first run set the stage for his victory, clocking in at 1 minute, 13.92 seconds – a time that no other competitor could match. Odermatt finished second after the first run, trailing Braathen by 0.95 seconds, while Loic Meillard of Switzerland was third, 1.57 seconds behind.

The second run saw several shifts in the standings. Marco Schwarz initially led, followed closely by Joan Verdu and Timon Haugan. Though, Atle Lie McGrath eventually took the lead, only to be surpassed by Stefan Brennsteiner and then Loic Meillard, who secured a medal with a strong performance.

Odermatt, competing last among the top contenders, delivered a strong second run, finishing with a total time of 2:25.58 and taking the lead temporarily. But Braathen, maintaining his composure and the advantage established in the first run, completed his second descent and secured the gold medal by 0.58 seconds.

The final results saw a Swiss double podium finish with Meillard taking bronze in 2:26.17. Thomas Tumler finished fourth (2:26.45), followed by Atle Lie McGrath of Norway (2:26.82) and Leo Anguenot of France (2:26.99).

Braathen’s victory is particularly notable as he only recently began competing under the Brazilian flag. He previously represented Norway, winning a slalom World Cup event in 2023 before announcing his retirement due to disagreements with the Norwegian Ski Federation regarding image rights. He subsequently decided to represent Brazil, the country of his mother’s birth, and returned to competition in 2024.

The gold medal represents a historic achievement for Brazil and South America, marking the continent’s first-ever Olympic medal in Winter Games competition. The event took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, one of the host cities for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which began on February 6th.