Brazil’s first medal at the Winter Games was watched in Milan by around 300 fans, with shouts of “hello, olê, hello, Lucas”, booing at their Swiss opponents and rounds of cheese bread.
This Saturday afternoon (14) in Italy, morning in Brazil, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, 25, came in first place, after two descents in the giant slalom on the track at the Stelvio Ski Center, in Bormio, Lombardy.
It was the first medal not only for Brazil, which has participated in the Winter Games since 1992, but also for South America. Before Lucas, Brazil’s best position had been in Turin 2006, with Isabel Clark ninth in snowboarding.
200 km from Bormio, Brazilian fans watched the broadcast of the events on the big screens at Casa Brasil, a space in Milan set up by the COB (Brazilian Olympic Committee). Entry was free and all tickets were reserved for the event, with queues at the entrance.
“Go home!” shouted Maria Piera, 62, when the Sportv narrator announced that a skier had approached Lucas’s time on the first descent, 1min13s92, when the Brazilian finished first, ahead of 72 other competitors.
Having lived in Milan for over 30 years, the Italian-Brazilian says she usually attends ski competitions with her Italian husband. “Last year, when he won, I saw him dancing samba and then my husband told me that Lucas was Brazilian. Since then, I started watching it too,” she said, one of the most excited in the crowd. “He deserves the medal, he’s very good!”
On the second descent, early afternoon in Italy, the house became even more crowded. With each Lucas appearance on TV, screams and Brazilian flags were raised.
“There’s no sauce, there’s no sauce”, the Brazilians sang and booed when the Swiss Marco Odermatt, Loic Meillard and Thomas Tumler began to set the best times, coming in first place, one after the other. “Lucas is coming and things are going to happen”, shouted the fans.
Lucas was the last of the battery of best placed in the first descent to compete, at 2:28 pm (10:28 am in Brasília). When he finished the race in 1:11:08, the crowd exploded, like a World Cup goal, overshadowing the narration on the screen. Next, the song “We Are the Champions”, by Queen.
“Being able to see our flag on the highest place on the podium is exciting, it’s really beautiful,” said Indiara Testa, 40, emotional right after Lucas’ victory. “I think this will open many doors, for sponsorships, for amateur athletes and for fans. As we don’t have snow in Brazil, many don’t even know about the Winter Olympics”, said the woman from Rio Grande do Sul who has lived in Milan for four years.
While waiting for the medal, around 900 cheese breads were served by chef Raphael Rego, a Michelin star from Rio de Janeiro in Paris, who runs the Casa Brasil restaurant. After the victory, the organization announced that a round of long neck beers would be offered for free. “Beer! Beer! Beer!”, shouted those present, before leaving in a little train through the hall.
