The Japan Times - Braathen hails 'drastic' changes after Olympic gold

Braathen fell out with the Norwegian ski federation and stepped away from the World Cup circuit in the 2023-24 season before returning under the Brazilian flag in October 2024.

His gold was the first ever for an athlete from Latin America at the Winter Olympics.

"It's a moment that's hard to grasp even though it's crystal clear that you are officially an Olympic champion," said Norwegian-born Braathen, draped in a Brazilian flag.

"It's still so incredible to live that dream-turned-reality."

Braathen contended that the "drastic changes" he'd made had been "absolutely necessary".

"As an athlete you're forced to become extremely good at processing and accepting defeat, much more than victories," he said.

"I've grown through my career as an alpine ski racer to become the best at it."

Braathen said periods of not winning, however, allow an athlete "to find light in the shade".

"It's exactly at these periods of time that you really breathe the champion you are yet to become."

Braathen said he hoped to be a "source of inspiration" for Brazilians, "that you dare to be who you can be".

He added that he was "beyond proud" hearing the Brazilian anthem playing in the mountains at the Winter Olympics, heralding the "unconditional love and support" he'd received from the homeland of his mother.

- Dominant first run -

Braathen laid down a dominant first leg, which went a long way to victory. Only Marco Odermatt got within one second of the Norwegian-born racer.

"I had the privilege of opening the show today, with number one on my chest and that's what I did," he said.

Odermatt said he was "very happy" to have rounded off his Olympic experience in Bormio with a second silver to go with a super-G bronze and just missing the podium in the downhill.

"The goal was a gold medal, but the Olympics are over, I am very happy with three medals and another fourth place," the 28-year-old Swiss racer said.

"I was present in every race, not always 100% but always at 99% and that's an amazing achievement.

"Today, for sure celebrating. A long week, a long two weeks without really celebrating and always looking for the next challenge. Now, it's over and I will enjoy it."

Braathen enjoyed a massive 0.95sec lead over second-placed Odermatt from the first run, something not lost on the Swiss racer.

"Somehow, we knew that Lucas could just beat himself in the second run, with this one-second advantage after his amazing first run but still we tried to attack," he said.

"Lucas handled it pretty well and brought it down."

Bronze medallist Loic Meillard, who parterned Odermatt to combined silver for Switzerland, praised the camaraderie between skiers.

"It's a ski family. When we are in the start gate, we want to beat everyone, of course. At the finish, we want to see a better time than the other guys," he said.

"But, in the end, we know how hard everyone is working, the risk everyone is taking. So we can also enjoy the moment with everyone."

Y.Ishikawa--JT