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.

Braathen won Brazil’s first-ever Winter Games medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Following his parents' divorce when he was 3 years old, Pinheiro Braathen lived with his mother in Brazil before moving to Norway to live with his father when he got older. “I w

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

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.

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.