To the podium in the samba rhythm. The “New Brazilian” Lucas Pinheiro Braathen danced through the gates on the “Birds of Prey” in Beaver Creek on Sunday (December 8th, 2024) with a similar spirit to the Brazilian folk dance. In the end it was enough for second place. Braathen only had to admit defeat to Thomas Tumler from Switzerland. He also made history as second.
For the man from Oslo, who returned to the World Cup this winter and competes for Brazil – his mother’s home country – it was the first podium finish this winter. Braathen crossed the finish line with a lead of almost a second and celebrated his magical journey – how could it be otherwise – with a samba-like dance performance. “I’m so happy I’m back Game am” Braathen said happily afterwards in the ORF interview.
Braathen is making history
At the finish line he swung his hips. It seems to have become his new trademark. He had already celebrated a similarly good run at the giant slalom in Sölden. With the podium finish in Beaver Creek Braathen also wrote history by securing Brazil’s first ever podium finish in the World Cup.
Braathen for Brazil: “It means an incredible amount to me”
“It’s incredible that my grandparents in Brazil can see their grandson on the news”said Braathen in a BR interview after the slalom in Levi. “It feels like a circle is closing.”said Braathen, who had already hung up his skis in 2023 after disputes with the Norwegian association. “The fact that the whole family can follow my journey makes me very proud and emotional. That means an incredible amount to me.”
In his first race after a year’s break at the giant slalom in Sölden, Braathen narrowly missed the podium with fourth place. At the finish line he still danced the samba and was overjoyed about his successful return.
Braathen emotional after podium in Beaver Creek
He also finished fourth in the slalom in Levi. After he, like other top athletes, couldn’t cope in Gurgl and was eliminated, it was now enough for his first podium finish this winter. After the race he became emotional on ORF.
The reason for his speechlessness is not a lack of knowledge of German, but rather “my emotions”Braathen confessed through tears. “Thank you to everyone on my team who works so, so hard every day. Thank you to my father, my number one fan. Thank you to my mother for watching my first race.” Now he can hardly wait to meet his family and drink a beer, he admitted.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen brings the samba to the Alpine Ski World Cup – and makes Brazil and his grandparents very proud.