Brazilian Tops Overall Standings in Alpine Skiing World Cup

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is the first skier racing for Brazil to stand on a winner’s podium for World Cup Alpine Ski Racing.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is the first skier racing for Brazil to stand on a winner’s podium for World Cup Alpine Ski Racing.

Having been given the 29th starting spot in the first run of the GS at Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA, on Sunday, Pinheiro Braathen almost won after two brilliant runs, scoring enough points to move to the top of the World Cup overall leader board.

As well as making history as the first Brazilian athlete to stand on a World Cup podium, it was also the first podium place of his comeback season after missing out at Sölden by less than three-tenths of a second.
Pinheiro Braathen leads the 2024/25 FIS World Cup giant slalom standings by just one point ahead of Norway’s Alexander Steen Olsen.

Having originally raced for his father’s nation Norway, Pinheiro Braathen retired at the age of 23, 14 months ago, but has returned to racing this season competing for his mother’s nation.

As he did in Sölden, Pinheiro Braathen marked his Beaver Creek run with a samba jig in the finish area, celebrating returning to the Alpine fold as a Brazilian athlete, having previously competed for Norway.

“What a moment to break out a dance in front of all these amazing fans here today,” Pinheiro Braathen said, adding, I came onto the circuit to make a difference. I came here to be myself and hopefully be an inspiration to the outcasts out there, to the people that feel a bit different, to follow their own path. I just think it’s such a privilege to be able to be the first one to bring the Brazilian flag, something that I’m so proud of, up to a winter sport World Cup podium. Words cannot really describe the emotions that I’m feeling right now. I’m just beyond grateful for everyone that he supported me up until this day.”