Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has raised Brazil’s chances of securing its first Olympic medal in alpine skiing by claiming the nation’s inaugural victory in a premier ski competition. He emerged victorious in the opening slalom event of the World Cup season held in Levi, Finland, setting the stage three months ahead of the men’s slalom at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on February 16. Pinheiro Braathen maintained his substantial lead from the first run to clock a time of one minute 50.72 seconds, outpacing 2022 Olympic champion Clement Noel from France by 0.31 seconds (1:51.03).
Upon completing the race, Pinheiro Braathen removed his skis, dropped to his knees, and jubilantly exclaimed “yeah” with both arms raised. Wrapped in the Brazilian flag, he expressed, “It embodies who I am. I strive to ski in my unique way, from the heart, for myself rather than others.” This victory marked Pinheiro Braathen’s sixth career win but his first since transitioning to compete for Brazil last year after departing from the Norwegian ski federation.
Reflecting on his journey, Pinheiro Braathen shared, “This path was challenging and quite solitary. Yet, I stayed true to my course, and I am immensely grateful to my family, friends, and team for their trust and belief in me.” His Norwegian father, Bjorn, was present at the event, further adding to his pride. Pinheiro Braathen emphasized that this triumph goes beyond a World Cup victory, symbolizing a personal conquest that he hopes will inspire others to embrace their individuality.
In the competition, two Canadian skiers, Liam Wallace from Banff, Alta., and Erik Read from Calgary, failed to secure a spot in the top 30 for the second run. Pinheiro Braathen, a tech specialist who debuted in the World Cup in 2018, had achieved five wins before claiming the season-long slalom title in 2022-23. Known for his vibrant persona, including his unique style choices like painting his fingernails, he parted ways with the Norwegian ski federation over personal marketing rights, took a hiatus from the sport, and returned last season representing Brazil, his mother’s homeland.
Being the first Brazilian skier on the alpine skiing World Cup circuit since 2016, Pinheiro Braathen amassed five podium finishes in 22 races for Brazil before seizing the recent victory. Looking ahead, he remarked, “This win is not just for myself, but for my loved ones, Brazil, and the celebration of individuality. To all the kids watching, remember, your uniqueness is your strength, so embrace it.” In an interview earlier, Pinheiro Braathen had confidently stated that his first win for Brazil was on the horizon, and it came to fruition sooner than expected.
In the initial run, Pinheiro Braathen led Noel by 0.41 seconds, crediting his success to following a well-thought-out plan and strategy. The podium also featured Eduard Hallberg from Finland, finishing third, marking the country’s first top-three result in a World Cup event since 2007. Notable skiers like Henrik Kristoffersen and Loic Meillard secured the 13th and 14th positions in the slalom race, respectively.
While Swiss skiing star Marco Odermatt triumphed in the season-opening giant slalom in Austria, he does not participate in slalom events. Marcel Hirscher, a renowned figure in skiing, who made a similar federation switch like Pinheiro Braathen before his comeback, opted to skip the recent race due to injury, postponing his return until January.
In a separate event, Mikaela Shiffrin clinched the women’s race at Lapland’s traditional season-opening slalom weekend, where winners are awarded reindeer as prizes. The competition continues in Gurgl, Austria, with upcoming men’s and women’s slalom races.