Lucas Pinheiro Braathen enters the Winter Olympics as a legitimate medal contender in Alpine skiing, with a chance to become the first Brazilian and South American to win a Winter Olympics medal after switching allegiance from Norway.

MILAN (AP) — When Lucas Pinheiro Braathen tells people in Brazil that he represents the country in Alpine skiing, he says they don’t believe him. They just might if he wins Brazil’s first Winter Olympics medal next month.

From the favela to the top of the podium, Rafaela Silva earned Brazil's first gold medal of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. And to celebrate, the 24-year-old judo champion shed tears as she jumped into the exuberant crowd with a Brazilian flag wrapped around ...