Lucas Pinheiro Braathen dominated the first run of the Olympic giant slalom in Bormio on Saturday, February 14, 2026, setting a blistering pace and putting himself in contention for a historic medal.
The 25-year-old Brazilian racer delivered a stunning performance, navigating the Stelvio course with remarkable skill and finishing ahead of the competition. World Cup leader Marco Odermatt of Switzerland finished second, 95 hundredths of a second behind Braathen. Odermatt, who had a disappointing fourth-place finish in the downhill and then secured silver in the combined and bronze in the super-G at these Games, will need a strong second run to challenge for the gold. Another Swiss skier, Loic Meillard, 29, took third, trailing Braathen by 1.57 seconds. Meillard claimed silver in the combined event in Bormio and boasts six World Championship medals, including two titles.
Italy’s Alex Vinatzer was the top performer for the host nation, finishing 11th, 2.39 seconds off the pace. He was looking to rebound after a difficult slalom run in the combined event. Giovanni Franzoni, who won silver in the downhill, qualified for the second run in 25th place. A disappointing day for Italy also saw Luca de Aliprandini lose a ski mid-run, ending his chances. Tobias Kastlunger did not finish the course.
