Overview
- The 25-year-old triumphed in Bormio by 0.58 seconds over Swiss favorite Marco Odermatt to take the men’s giant slalom title.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led nationwide congratulations, with Brazilian clubs and athletes hailing the breakthrough.
- The victory marks the first Winter Games medal for Brazil and the first ever for a South American athlete.
- Braathen, celebrated for an expressive public persona that includes fashion and DJ work, was moved to tears during a live congratulatory call from ski great Alberto Tomba.
- Feature reporting details a privately financed, multinational support team managed by his father and estimates costs at about one million euros per season, following a pre-Games run of three straight World Cup giant slalom podiums.