At a Glance
- Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, 25, is aiming for Brazil’s first Winter Olympic medal.
- He has already broken ground for Brazil in World Cup events, winning a race and earning a podium.
- His background blends Brazilian and Norwegian cultures, giving him a unique perspective on competition.
- Why it matters: A medal would be historic for South America and could inspire a new generation of winter athletes.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is a name that has become synonymous with hope for Brazilian winter sports. He has been training in the mountains for years, and now he stands on the brink of making history at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The Quest for a Historic Medal
The upcoming Games in Milan will host the men’s Alpine ski racing in Bormio. If Lucas Pinheiro Braathen finishes on the podium, it would be the first Winter Olympic medal for any South American country. He has expressed that the added pressure is a motivator, saying, “The greater the challenge, the greater the difference that I can bring and I believe it is the more pressure you feel, the bigger the difference that you can create.”
He also reflected on the disbelief he often encounters back home:
“When I meet someone new in Brazil it’s always this mindblowing moment and it always sparks a very interesting conversation,” he said in an interview with Sophia A. Reynolds in Milan. “And funny enough, I actually think it’s those interactions that maybe prove the most how fulfilling it is for me to represent Brazil in something like skiing because it just shows me how foreign it is.”
Dual Heritage and Early Career
His mother is Brazilian and his father is Norwegian. He raced for Norway until he abruptly retired on the eve of the 2023 season, only to return a year later representing Brazil. The 2023 World Cup slalom champion has already racked up a series of firsts under his new flag, becoming the first Brazilian skier to finish on a World Cup podium last year before claiming the country’s first victory this season to add to his five for Norway.
He said, “I simply try to capitalize off of that pressure and channel it into my performance because, yes, it makes the days leading into the competition extremely challenging because you know you have something greater to live up to rather than just the possibility of a great result.”
World Cup Success
In 2023, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen earned a podium finish for Brazil, a milestone that had never been achieved before. He celebrated the moment with a samba dance, a nod to his Brazilian roots. After claiming his first win, he fell to his knees and screamed “yeah!” with both arms in the air.
His victory is not just a personal triumph but a statement about the potential for athletes from non-traditional winter sports nations to compete at the highest level. He described the feeling as, “If you achieve immense success in something that you’ve dedicated your life to, at least for me, it is impossible to curate what those moments look like.”
Personal Style and Cultural Identity
Known for painting his fingernails and his taste for fashion, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen brings the energy of Brazil and the discipline of Norway to the slopes. He said, “I’m a person of cultural duality. Two perspectives always presented from birth and so for me I always find that I’ve never been living a life where I’m only presented to one reality, one culture or one way of living.”
He believes that this duality shapes his approach to competition and life: “It’s always been these polar opposites and so I think that has shaped me to become who I am today and how I want to live my life.”
Family Support
His father, Björn Braathen, has been a constant presence in his career. The father introduced him to skiing at the age of four or five, though the young boy did not take to it immediately. “I bought everything for him, like shoes, like boots and skis and everything, and we went out and he would complain the whole time,” Lucas Pinheiro Braathen recalled. “Like I’m cold, I’m not cut out for this, I’m freezing, and I’m Brazilian and this is not for me.”
Despite the early doubts, Björn has always supported his son’s decision to switch allegiances. He said, “As a Norwegian, people expect me to feel very bad about that, but I don’t. It’s my son and I just want him to be happy.”
Key Takeaways
- Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is on the verge of becoming the first South American to win a Winter Olympic medal.
- His background blends Brazilian flair and Norwegian training, giving him a unique competitive edge.
- A podium finish would inspire future generations of winter athletes from Brazil and the broader South American region.
The world will be watching as he takes to the slopes in Bormio, hoping that his blend of talent, pressure, and cultural pride will translate into historic gold for Brazil.
