Pinheiro Braathen, 25, the world’s second-ranked 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.
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Born to a Norwegian father and Brazilian mother, Pinheiro Braathen began his career representing Norway, where he won five World Cup races in slalom and giant slalom, as well as achieving 12 podium finishes. She competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in slalom and giant slalom, but did not finish either event.
After abruptly retiring in October 2023, Pinheiro Braathen returned to competition five months later representing Brazil. He has one World Cup victory and has now achieved 11 podiums since moving to Brazil ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Following his parents’ divorce when he was three years old, Pinheiro Braathen lived with his mother in Brazil before moving to Norway to live with his father when he grew up.
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“I learned about sports on the streets of São Paulo, playing with my neighbors, my family, my friends. I fell in love with sports there,” Pinheiro Braathen said in 2024. “Being able to come full circle and be able to represent (Brazil) in the World Cup of a sport, it really means a lot. Being able to bring dance to the snow is what I’m looking to do.”
Pinheiro Braathen, who was one of Brazil’s flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony, is now an Olympic history maker, joining previous athletes from his country such as Isadora Williams, who became the first Brazilian and South American in the women’s figure skating final at the 2018 Olympic Games; five-time Olympic cross-country skier Jaqueline Mourão; and Eric Maleson sledder.
“Norway taught me how to be an athlete, how to face the cold,” Pinheiro Braathen told reporters last week in Milan. “Brazil taught me to be myself.”