Lucas Braathen

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was born in Oslo, Norway, on April 19, 2000, to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother. He spent parts of his early childhood in Brazil and grew up speaking both Norwegian and Portuguese. Initially drawn to football, Braathen began skiing at the age of three or four, but it was at nine that he seriously committed to the sport, driven by a desire to become the best skier globally. He raced for the Norwegian club Bærums SK during his formative years.

Braathen’s career progression saw him make his World Cup debut in December 2018 in Val d’Isere, where he secured his first World Cup points. At the Junior World Championships in 2019, he earned a silver medal in Super-G and a bronze in the combined event. His first World Cup victory came in October 2020 at the season opener giant slalom in Sölden. In 2022, he achieved another significant milestone by winning his first slalom race at the Lauberhorn race in Wengen, demonstrating a notable comeback from 29th to 1st place. The 2022-2023 season was particularly successful, with Braathen securing seven podium finishes and three victories, culminating in his first Slalom Crystal Globe.

In October 2023, Braathen announced a temporary retirement from World Cup racing, at the age of 23. However, his break was brief, and in March 2024, he declared his return to alpine skiing, this time representing Brazil. In October 2024, exactly one year after his retirement announcement, he competed in the World Cup Giant Slalom season opener in Sölden, finishing 4th and earning Brazil its first-ever World Cup points in alpine skiing, marking a new chapter in his career.