Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a 25-year-old alpine skier representing Brazil, could claim the country's first Winter Olympics medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. With a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father, he switched nationalities after retiring from racing for Norway in 2023. His recent World Cup successes highlight his potential to make history for South America.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has become a trailblazer in alpine skiing, bringing Brazilian flair to a sport dominated by northern nations. Born to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father, the 25-year-old spent much of his childhood in both countries, shaping his unique cultural perspective. He raced for Norway until abruptly retiring on the eve of the 2023 season, only to return a year later under the Brazilian flag.
As the 2023 World Cup slalom champion with five wins for Norway, Pinheiro Braathen quickly achieved milestones for Brazil. He became the first Brazilian to podium in a World Cup event last year and secured the country's inaugural victory this season, including a win in Levi, Finland, on November 16, 2025. There, he celebrated by feeding a deer—a traditional prize—and naming it after his father, Björn Braathen.
In a recent interview in Milan with The Associated Press, Pinheiro Braathen shared the disbelief he encounters in Brazil. “When I meet someone new (in Brazil) … it’s always this mindblowing moment and it always sparks a very interesting conversation,” he said. “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. So that’s really fun.”
A podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio would mark Brazil's—and South America's—first medal in the Winter Games, a fact that surprised him. “I mean thanks you just added a whole other layer of pressure so I’ll happily bring that along,” he laughed. He views pressure as a motivator: “Pressure is privilege. It is my most important currency.”
Known for his vibrant personality, Pinheiro Braathen paints his fingernails and celebrated a podium with a samba dance, while his first win saw him drop to his knees in exhilaration. His father, who introduced him to skiing at age 4 or 5 despite initial resistance, now serves as his team manager. “As a Norwegian, people expect me to feel very bad about that, but I don’t,” Björn said. “It’s my son and I just want him to be happy.”
Pinheiro Braathen embodies cultural duality: “I’m a person of cultural duality … It’s always been these polar opposites and so I think that has shaped me to become who I am today.” As the Olympics approach, he chases authentic moments of success.
