The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo present a significant opportunity for Brazil, a nation traditionally strong in summer sports, to achieve a landmark moment: its first-ever Winter Olympics medal. The focus for this potential breakthrough is squarely on Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, an alpine skier who holds promising rankings in giant slalom and slalom. His participation is seen as a key element in Brazil's aspirations for winter sporting recognition.
Historical Context and Athlete Focus
Brazil has historically excelled in sports such as football and volleyball, with limited previous success in winter disciplines. The 2026 Games, however, mark a deliberate push for greater representation and achievement on snow and ice.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is central to Brazil's medal ambitions. Born in Oslo to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father, Braathen switched his national representation to Brazil. He currently holds a second-place ranking in the World Cup standings for both giant slalom and slalom.
Braathen previously secured a release from the Norwegian federation to compete for Brazil, a move that underscores his commitment to this new endeavor.
He, alongside fellow Brazilian athlete Camila Silveira, carried the Brazilian flag during the Opening Ceremony, highlighting their symbolic importance to the nation's Olympic contingent.
Key Events and Competition Schedule
Brazil's medal hopes are largely tied to alpine skiing events, with particular attention on the giant slalom.
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Alpine Skiing - Giant Slalom: This event is a primary focus for Braathen, given his strong World Cup performance. He is scheduled to compete, with Run 1 starting at 10:00 CET and Run 2 at 13:30 CET on February 14th.
Alpine Skiing - Slalom: Another discipline where Braathen is highly ranked, offering a secondary opportunity for a medal.
Cross-Country Skiing: While Brazil's primary focus is on alpine skiing, other events are taking place. The Women's 4 x 7.5km cross-country skiing relay was scheduled for midday on February 14th, and the Men's 4 x 7.5km relay for February 15th. However, Brazil does not appear to have prominent athletes declared in these events.
| Event | Date | Time (CET) | Athletes/Nations of Interest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Giant Slalom | Feb 14 | 10:00/13:30 | Lucas Pinheiro Braathen | Primary medal opportunity for Brazil. |
| Women's Dual Moguls | Feb 14 | 11:46 | Jakara Anthony (Australia) | Gold medal won by Anthony; not relevant to Brazil's medal hunt. |
| Women's 7.5km Sprint | Feb 14 | 14:45 | N/A | Cross-country skiing event. |
| Women's 4x7.5km Relay | Feb 14 | 12:00 | N/A | Cross-country skiing event. |
| Men's 1500m Speed Skate | Feb 14 | 22:42 | Jordan Stolz (USA) | Speed skating final. |
Broader Olympic Landscape
The 2026 Games feature a wide array of sports and athletes competing for medals.
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Freestyle Skiing: Australia's Jakara Anthony secured gold in the women's dual moguls.
Speed Skating: Jordan Stolz of the USA is pursuing multiple speed skating golds, having already won the men's 1000m.
Other Disciplines: Finals are also occurring in women's skeleton, men's ski jumping, and various short track speed skating events.
New Events: Ski mountaineering is debuting as a Winter Olympic event.
Expert Commentary and Analysis
The potential for Brazil to secure a Winter Olympics medal is a subject of significant interest, highlighting the evolving global participation in winter sports.
"Alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen… is targeting a first-ever Winter Olympic medal for Brazil, which would also be the first for South America."
This statement underscores the magnitude of Braathen's potential achievement. His dual-citizenship background and decision to represent Brazil are crucial factors in this narrative. His high ranking in established disciplines suggests a genuine medal threat, rather than mere participation.
Conclusion and Implications
Brazil's focus on alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen for its first Winter Olympics medal is a clear strategic objective. His current World Cup standings provide a tangible basis for this ambition.
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Medal Potential: Braathen's performances in the giant slalom and slalom events are the key indicators for Brazil's medal prospects.
National Significance: A medal would represent a historic milestone for Brazil in winter sports, potentially increasing engagement and investment in these disciplines.
Future Outlook: The success of Braathen could pave the way for other Brazilian athletes in similar disciplines, broadening the country's competitive scope at future Winter Games.
Sources Used:
The Guardian - Winter Olympics 2026: Brazil aiming for historic first medal, cross-country skiing and more – live: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/feb/14/winter-olympics-2026-giant-slalom-freestyle-skiing-skeleton-ice-hockey-live (Published: 4 minutes ago. Provides live updates on events, mentioning Jakara Anthony's gold and Brazil's medal aspirations.)
Olympics.com - Winter Olympics 2026: How to watch day 8 live – full schedule and medal events on Saturday 14 February: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-how-to-watch-day-8-live-full-schedule-and-medal-events-on-saturday-14-february (Published: 1 day ago. Details the schedule for February 14th, specifically mentioning Lucas Pinheiro Braathen's pursuit of a medal for Brazil.)
Olympics.com - Olympic Cross-Country Skiing | Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/sports/cross-country-skiing (Seen on: Brave. Provides general information about cross-country skiing events at the Games.)
Olympics.com - Winter Olympics 2026 schedule and day-by-day guide: https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c338y36kngzo (Published: 13 hours ago. Offers a comprehensive day-by-day schedule of medal events.)
NBC News - These two athletes could deliver South America's first medals in the Winter Games: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/2026-winter-olympics-two-athletes-deliver-south-americas-first-medals-rcna258896 (Published: 10 hours ago. Focuses on Braathen and Silveira as potential medalists for South America, detailing Braathen's background and decision to ski for Brazil.)
Wikipedia - Cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-countryskiingatthe2026WinterOlympics (Published: 1 day ago. Provides competition schedule, medal summaries from previous Olympics, and details about the cross-country skiing venue.)
Wikipedia - 2026 Winter Olympics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026WinterOlympics (Published: 5 hours ago. General overview of the Games, including host cities, debut events, and notable occurrences.)
The Guardian - Winter Olympics 2026: Weston ends GB drought, Heraskevych’s appeal rejected by CAS – as it happened: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/feb/13/winter-olympics-2026-seven-gold-medals-up-for-grabs-gb-look-to-end-medal-drought-and-more-live (Published: 13 hours ago. Covers various events, including men's skeleton where Matt Weston is mentioned.)
The Guardian - Winter Olympics 2026: France beat USA to figure skating gold as GB’s wait for medal goes on – as it happened: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/feb/11/winter-olympics-2026-gold-medals-up-for-grabs-in-skiing-figure-skating-and-more-live (Published: 3 days ago. Reports on figure skating results and GB's medal drought.)
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