Brazilians celebrate ‘Carnival in the Italian snow’ as Alpine skier wins Olympic gold

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — With Brazil entering the joyous throes of Carnival, Alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen on Saturday gave it another reason to celebrate — an Olympic medal.

It was the first-ever medal at the Winter Games for any country in South America. And not just any medal: Gold.

The win for the 25-year-old known in Brazil as “O cara do ski” — the skiing dude — happened on the first full day of Carnival, the pre-Lenten party that fills city streets with revelers drinking and dancing to their hearts’ content.