The ‘Haaland of skiing’, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, Olympic champion, represents Brazil and celebrates his roots
One of the greatest achievements in Brazilian sport in 2026, to date, was achieved by an athlete born in Oslo, Norway. Skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, with a strong connection to Brazil, has already defined his fans for next Sunday, at 5pm (Brasília time), in the round of 16 clash of the World Cup between the two nations he represented: his heart beats strong for Brazil.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, in 2024, publicly expressed his connection with the country: “I’m Brazilian. My love for the sport was born here in Brazil, playing football with my cousins, my friends here on the streets of São Paulo. A new skier will always come from Norway. But it’s not always that a skier will come from Brazil, right?” This statement occurred when his change of sporting flag was made official.
Nicknamed the “Haaland of skiing” and also the “Phenomenon”, Lucas had Brazilian stars Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Ronaldo Nazário as his greatest childhood idols. He became the first athlete from Brazil to win an Olympic gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games, an unprecedented feat in Milan and Cortina, during this year’s Carnival.
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The skier enthusiastically shared his feelings on 2024, highlighting the importance of his choice. “What I feel is joy and love. I’m passionate about representing Brazilians in a new sport. This is very big for me. I’m very happy to represent my country”, he told ge at the time.
Son of Brazilian Alessandra Pinheiro and Norwegian Bjorn Braathen, Lucas was born in Oslo, but visited his family in Campinas annually since he was a child, which helped him learn Portuguese fluently. In addition to the language, he developed a fondness for typical foods such as cheese bread, guaraná, coffee and brigadeiro, and also for football. However, the severe weather conditions in Norway kept him away from the field.
He recalled the reason for the transition to skiing: “The problem is that in the winter periods in Norway, any activity like football was canceled because of the severe snowfall. My father then convinced me to try alpine skiing when I was nine years old.” Lucas, who is a São Paulo fan and has been to Morumbi games, followed his father’s advice.
Currently 25 years old, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is dating Brazilian actress Isadora Cruz, who starred in the Globo soap opera “Coração Acelerado” and was a model at the opening of “Fantástico”. In the world of football, his greatest inspirers continue to be Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho.
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When talking about his inspirations, Lucas highlighted the influence of Brazilian stars: “When I visited my family in Brazil, my first idols were Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Ronaldo and those players who really transformed football and sport in general, by daring to be who they are. This inspired me to have the courage to tell my father, when I was six or seven years old, that I wanted to be the best football player in the world. Now, in some way, I’m a skier. But at least I’m a champion.”
With his father’s constant support, Lucas achieved victory in the 2023 Crystal Globe giant slalom, considered the world circuit title, while competing for Norway. After a period without competing in the Nordic country, he announced his retirement from the Norwegian team at the end of 2023.
The decision to defend Brazilian colors came in the preparation cycle for the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, in 2026, culminating in the gold medal in the slalom. Previously, in 2022, he had participated in the Beijing Winter Olympics for Norway, but without achieving a podium finish.
Reflecting on his identity, the athlete commented in an Olympic Games podcast: “In Brazil I was the foreign guy from Norway, but in Norway I was the Brazilian guy.” This ambiguous perception shaped his choice to represent the country that most resonates with his spirit.
In the general scenario of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Norway stood out, finishing in first place. The Norwegian delegation won a total of 41 medals, including 18 gold, which highlights the weight of Lucas’ decision to compete for a nation with less tradition in winter sports.
He emphasized his deep appreciation for Brazilian culture: “And I like many things in Brazil, cheese bread, guaraná, coffee, brigadeiro. They are the best things in Brazil. I really like Brazilian culture. It’s a different feeling when I’m with my family and friends. It’s a different joy and quality of life. It’s such a warm love that my family doesn’t care if I win or lose, they will continue to love me. This atmosphere in Brazil is like nowhere else in the world.”
By securing Brazil’s only medal at the 2026 Games, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrated the victory in an authentic way, dancing with the delegation. On Carnival Saturday, the alpine skier proved that his Brazilianness goes beyond the document, also manifesting itself in ginga. Although he is a talent comparable to Haaland in sport, his feeling and soul are undeniably Brazilian.
