New Delhi, Feb. 15 -- Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men's giant slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, securing the gold medal and etching his name into history as the first athlete from Brazil and South America to clinch gold at any Winter Games.

The 25-year-old navigated the challenging Stelvio course in Bormio, Italy, under falling snow and thickening fog. His powerful and precise runs delivered a combined time of 2:25.00, edging out defending Olympic champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by 0.58 seconds for silver. Odermatt's teammate Loic Meillard took bronze with a time of 2:26.17.

Pinheiro Braathen built a commanding lead in the first run, clocking 1:13.92, nearly a full second ah...