{"id":2761,"date":"2026-02-14T23:25:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T23:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=2761"},"modified":"2026-02-14T23:25:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T23:25:21","slug":"south-america-breaks-102-year-drought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=2761","title":{"rendered":"South America breaks 102-year drought"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Hello from Milan and Cortina, where Brazil\u2019s <\/em>Lucas Pinheiro Braathen<\/strong><\/em> won gold in the men\u2019s giant slalom, making history for all of South America. Plus, American <\/em>Jordan Stolz<\/strong><\/em> continued his march toward potentially winning four speedskating medals at these Games.<\/em><\/p>\n

Our correspondents have it all covered below and at <\/em>NBC News<\/em><\/a>. Catch it all streaming on <\/em>Peacock<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Live from Milan Cortina<\/h2>\n

In Jordan Stolz\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> quest for four speedskating gold medals at these Olympics, he was supposed to face his toughest test today in the 500-meter final. In his pair, Stolz was matched with the Netherlands\u2019 Jenning de Boo<\/strong>, one of his top competitors.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

Stolz sprinted to a time of 33.77 seconds, and de Boo ended up 0.11 seconds behind.<\/p>\n

After they crossed the finish line, de Boo slipped and slid into a boundary. He sat on the ice as Stolz took a lap and waved to the crowd.<\/p>\n

Stolz is now 2 for 2 at these Games. A few days ago, he won gold<\/a> and set an Olympic record at the 1,000-meter final. He will race in the 1500-meter final and the mass start event next week.<\/p>\n

\"Jordan<\/picture>
Jordan Stolz competes during the men’s speedskating 500-meter race.<\/span>Dean Mouhtaropoulos \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also: Team USA men\u2019s hockey overcame an early deficit and eventually overpowered Denmark, winning 6-3. <\/p>\n

On the slopes, Jaelin Kauf<\/strong> became the most decorated mogul skier in U.S. Olympic history today when she took second in the debut of dual moguls to Australia\u2019s Jakara Anthony<\/strong>. It was the third Olympic silver medal of Kauf\u2019s career, and she wasn\u2019t the only American to medal, as Liz Lemley<\/strong> took bronze. Lemley had won the individual moguls gold medal just days earlier.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, in men\u2019s curling, a shouting match erupted<\/a> after Team Sweden accused Canada of cheating for allegedly touching the stone after it\u2019d been released. World Curling issued a verbal warning to Team Canada \u201cregarding the language used\u201d as it defended itself.<\/p>\n

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Athlete Spotlight<\/h2>\n
\"Image:<\/picture>
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Team Brazil celebrates during the men’s giant slalom.<\/span>Christian Petersen \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it came to earning medals at the Winter Olympics, athletes from South American countries had gone 0 for 102 years.<\/p>\n

Until Saturday.<\/p>\n

After Lucas Pinheiro Braathen<\/strong> of Brazil won the men\u2019s giant slalom, he said he hoped the win would \u201cinspire some kids out there that, despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are. Because that is the real source of happiness in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pinheiro Braathen grew up in Oslo, Norway, to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother. He skied for Norway until he retired three years ago at 23. But after taking a trip to Brazil to decompress, he came away resolved to return to competitive skiing while representing his mother\u2019s home country. It turned out to be a historic decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not even able to grasp reality, as I stand here right now,\u201d he said after winning his first Olympic medal. \u201cI am just trying to get some sort of emotion here and translate it into words, even though it\u2019s absolutely impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Behind the scenes<\/h2>\n
\"Marius<\/picture>
Marius Lindvik of Team Norway during the men’s normal hill individual trial round on Monday.<\/span>Alex Pantling \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Broadcasting these Winter Olympics<\/a> requires more than 800 cameras, but 25 have stolen the show in Milan Cortina, in particular.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the drone Olympics<\/a>, where 25 drones \u2014 including 15 \u201cfirst-person-view\u201d drones \u2014 are providing bird\u2019s-eye views of skiers, speedskaters, lugers and more, footage that has drawn rave reviews from fans and some athletes. Pilots such as Jelmer Poelsma<\/strong>, a 26-year-old who has been flying drones for 11 years, have become as popular as some athletes. Like the rest of the pilots who operate 15 \u201cfirst-person-view\u201d drones, Poelsma wears goggles while sitting next to a spotter who ensures the drone never gets too close to the athletes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no room for error,\u201d Poelsma said.<\/p>\n

The drones are specialized for the sport they cover; those used in Alpine skiing can fly up to 75 mph. For safety, they must be flown behind or to the side of competitors. Swapping batteries requires a quick change that one broadcast executive likened to an F1 pit stop. Drones have been used in Olympic coverage since 2014, but their expanded use in Italy stemmed from organizers\u2019 desire to capture the attention of casual sports fans they say make up half the viewing audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use a technological innovation,\u201d said Yiannis Exarchos<\/strong>, the CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services, \u201conly if it adds to the story that we\u2019re telling.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo of the day<\/h2>\n
\"Jordan<\/picture>
Jordan Stolz celebrates after winning gold in the men’s speedskating 500-meter race.<\/span>Dean Mouhtaropoulos \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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When to watch<\/h2>\n

Mikaela Shiffrin<\/strong> looks to rebound after a disappointing run earlier<\/a> in the Games when she competes in women\u2019s giant slalom. Erin Jackson<\/strong><\/a> looks to defend her title<\/a> in the 500 meters, competing against the Dutch duo of Jutta Leerdam<\/strong> and Femke Kok<\/strong> among others. Elana Meyers Taylor<\/strong><\/a>, the most decorated female bobsledder and Black Winter Olympian ever, will officially compete in her fifth Olympics when she takes part in women\u2019s monobob.<\/p>\n

All times are in Eastern, and an asterisk signifies a medal event:<\/p>\n

Sunday, Feb. 15<\/strong><\/p>\n