Milano Cortina 2026: Braathen Makes History at Midpoint
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed Brazil's first-ever Winter Olympic medal with giant slalom gold, while Day 13 of the Milano Cortina Games features the women's figure skating free skate, the USA vs. Canada women's hockey final, and the historic Olympic debut of ski mountaineering.
A South American First on Alpine Slopes
The defining image of the 2026 Winter Olympics in the Italian Alps came on February 14, when Lucas Pinheiro Braathen carved across the Bormio finish line wrapped in Brazil's green-and-yellow. The 25-year-old's victory in the men's giant slalom was not merely Brazil's first Winter Olympic gold — it was South America's first Winter Olympic medal of any colour. A continent long locked out of the snowy Games had finally arrived.
Braathen beat defending Olympic champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by 0.58 seconds on his final run, with Odermatt taking silver and compatriot Loïc Meillard claiming bronze. Born in Oslo to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother, Braathen had previously represented Norway before retiring briefly and returning in 2024 under the Brazilian flag — a decision he has described as honouring his mother's roots. The choice has since made him a national hero across Brazil.
Day 13: Three Events to Define the Games
As the Games enter Thursday, February 19, attention turns to three headline events. In figure skating, Japan's Ami Nakai leads a tightly packed women's field into the free skate at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, with three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto positioned just behind in second and American Alysa Liu in third. The free skate is widely expected to produce a dramatic reshuffling of the podium.
Hockey's most storied rivalry resumes when the United States face Canada in the women's gold medal game — the fifth consecutive Olympic final between the two nations. The Americans arrive as heavy favourites: six wins from six, 31 goals scored and just one conceded throughout the entire tournament. Canada, carried in part by the brilliance of Marie-Philip Poulin — who netted twice in the semifinal win over Switzerland — will need a near-perfect performance to unseat them.
Ski Mountaineering Earns Its Olympic Moment
Thursday also marks a milestone for winter sport: ski mountaineering makes its long-awaited Olympic debut, with sprint events for men and women contested in Bormio's Valtellina region. The sole new discipline at Milano Cortina 2026, ski mountaineering blends high-speed alpine ascents with technical descents, athletes alternating between skinned climbing and ski-equipped racing on gruelling mountain terrain. Its IOC approval reflects a broader ambition to bring adventure and endurance disciplines into the five-ring fold.
Hockey Drama: Canada Survives in Overtime
Wednesday delivered one of the tournament's most breathless moments. Canada eliminated Czechia 4–3 in overtime in the men's quarterfinals, with Mitch Marner's backhand in extra time sending the Canadians through. Connor McDavid collected two assists to equal the record for most points at an NHL-era Olympic Games. The victory came at a price: captain Sidney Crosby was knocked from the game by a heavy hit, casting uncertainty over Canada's semifinal against Finland on Friday.
Elsewhere, Mikaela Shiffrin capped an emotional arc by winning the women's slalom on Wednesday — her third Olympic gold and first since 2018, secured by the largest winning margin in Olympic alpine skiing since 1998. Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo claimed an eighth Olympic title in cross-country skiing, and Japan's Totsuka Yuto ruled the snowboard halfpipe. With the closing ceremony set for February 22, Milano Cortina 2026 has already delivered a remarkable and history-laden chapter in Winter Games history.
