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.

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

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.

There is something surreal, and thus wonderfully Olympic, about seeing Brazil step onto the highest podium at the Winter Games. The country of samba, Copacabana beaches, and football lived as

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

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.

From gold medal triumphs to proposals to the lovable mascots, here were our favorite parts of the Milan-Cortina Games.

The 25-year-old had represented Norway at the 2022 Games in Beijing. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.