The rhythm of the giant slalom
Have you seen the images from Bormio? While we let the salsa beats blast here in the dance school, something happened on the icy slopes of the 2026 Winter Olympics that makes my dancing heart beat faster. It is February 14th, the eighth day of the Games in Milan-Cortina, and the world witnessed a historic moment that combined sport and culture in a rare way. The Brazilian ski rebel Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the giant slalom, securing the first-ever medal — and immediately gold — for South America at the Winter Games.
In my 30 years in the dance world, I have seen many athletes try to bring 'rhythm' to their sport, but what Braathen showed on the Stelvio slope was no ordinary descent. It was a choreography. With the text 'Vamos Dançar' (Let's dance) stenciled large on the back of his helmet, he proved that the line between top-level sport and art is razor-thin. For us as dancers, this is a wonderful example of how you can transform a technical discipline into pure self-expression.
The comeback of a showman
The story behind this gold medal is almost as spectacular as the race itself. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, born to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother, competed for Norway for years. After a conflict with the Norwegian ski federation over sponsorship rights and personal freedom, he decided to quit abruptly in 2023. He felt suffocated in a system that only had eyes for performance and not for the personality of the athlete. After a year of modeling and traveling, he announced his comeback under the Brazilian flag.
According to a report by the NOS, the pressure was enormous, but Braathen stayed cool. In the first run, he built a lead of almost a second over the Swiss great Marco Odermatt. In the second run, as the mist and snow drifted across the slope, he held his ground. He finished with a combined time of 2:25.00. The moment he crossed the finish line and realized he had made history was pure theater: he collapsed into the snow, screamed it out, and treated the audience to his now-famous samba steps.
Technical analysis: Hips and isolations on the ice
Based on my experience as a dance coach, I look at such a descent with a different perspective. What Braathen does in the giant slalom shows striking similarities with the technique we use in salsa and bachata. Just look at his hip work. In alpine skiing, the separation between the upper and lower body is crucial — in the dance world, we call that 'isolation'. While his upper body remains almost still and focused on the next target, his hips and legs make explosive, rhythmic movements to carve the corners.
Braathen doesn't ski against the mountain; he works with it. He looks for the 'flow', just as we look for it in a complex turn on the dance floor. His timing between the gates is like dancing 'on-2' in salsa; it's about finding that fraction of a second where you can generate the most power without losing your balance. The fact that he actually danced a samba on the podium after his victory did not feel forced at all. It is who he is.
Dutch success on the eighth day
Although the global focus was on the Brazilian sensation, it was also a top day for the Netherlands in Milan. Jens van 't Wout confirmed his status as short track king by winning his second gold medal of this tournament in the 1,500 meters. NU.nl reports that Van 't Wout jokingly attributes his success to the cakes at the buffet, but we all know that years of hard training lie behind it. Jenning de Boo also took silver in the 500 meters, giving the Dutch medal tally another big boost.
What these athletes have in common with Braathen is the focus on the moment. Whether you're hanging through a turn on short blades or thundering down a mountain at 120 kilometers per hour: as soon as you start thinking about the technique, you're too late. You have to trust your muscle memory and your intuition.
What we as dancers can learn from the slope
The most important insight Braathen gives us is the power of authenticity. He refused to adapt to the gray mass of the skiing world. He paints his nails, loves fashion, and brings his Brazilian temperament to a sport that is traditionally quite reserved. In the dance school, I often see students who are so focused on performing the steps perfectly that they forget to dance with their heart.
Concretely, this means for you: dare to add that extra flair. When you dance a salsa combination, think of the 'Vamos Dançar' mentality. It's not just about the 1-2-3, but about the energy you radiate between the beats. Braathen said after his win: "I just wanted to ski as the person I am." That is a lesson that should be repeated in every dance class.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have thus definitively become the Games of innovation. With a Brazilian on the highest podium of alpine skiing, the sport is more global than ever. And for us, it is a beautiful reminder that rhythm can be found everywhere, even in the cold snow of the Italian Alps.