Nobel peace laureate María Corina Machado greets supporters from a balcony of the Grand Hotel in Oslo, Norway, in the early hours of Dec 11, 2025.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
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ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Winning the Nobel Peace Prize is an extraordinary achievement, but for María Corina Machado, this year’s laureate, the journey to the ceremony was a feat in itself.
Machado had been in hiding for over a year after her opposition movement defeated President Nicolás Maduro in a controversial election. The operation to get her out of Venezuela and safely to Oslo was nothing short of a thriller.
Leading the mission was U.S. Special Forces Veteran Bryan Stern, founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Stern and his team of military veterans had orchestrated numerous extractions worldwide, but this one presented unique challenges.
“She’s the second most popular person in the Western Hemisphere after Maduro,” Stern remarked. “Her high profile made this operation exceptionally difficult.”
Operation Golden Dynamite was the code name for Machado’s escape, emphasizing the significance of Alfred Nobel, the Peace Prize founder. The decision to travel by sea was made due to the risks associated with land routes.
Coordinating with U.S. officials to navigate the waters near Venezuela, Stern and his team encountered unexpected challenges when Machado’s boat failed to reach the rendezvous point as planned.
In a tense and nerve-wracking encounter at sea, the team finally made contact with Machado. With her safe aboard, they continued their journey to a Caribbean island, where a private plane awaited to transport her to Oslo.
Reflecting on the mission, Stern praised Machado’s resilience and determination. “She didn’t complain once,” he noted, contrasting her stoicism with the crew’s apprehensions.
Having admired Machado’s leadership from afar, Stern gained a newfound respect for her during the operation. “She’s gnarly,” he said, impressed by her strength and courage.
