Last year, the skiing community stopped for a moment. Lucas Braathen’s few words caught them off guard. At 23, the Norwegian skiing phenom announced his retirement. On a chilly day in October, no one was prepared to hear such a decision from someone who had achieved rapid success in a short period. In fact, in 2023, Braathen had three third-place finishes at three different destinations in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup. He had a chance to go bigger in the upcoming World Cup season. So what disrupted him? That question brewed deep discussions.

However, in March this year, Braathen sat in a press conference in Salzburg to announce his return to the sport. But he assured the fans of carrying the Brazilian flag with him this time instead of the Norwegian. So, had there been any issues with him in the Norwegian skiing camp, leading him to change the representation? Is another debate on the way? But in reality, the phenom has notable reasons behind his decision to return to the sport and change the fold.

Lucas Braathen sets eyes on a different target in his fresh endeavor

Five months after he retired from the skiing sport, Lucas Braathen announced his return to the same realm. Moreover, he will represent Brazil now, leaving his native country behind. So is this a hurried decision made under any impression? No, certainly not. Rather, the 2023 slalom Crystal Globe champion tastes beauty in representing the outcast in the sport. In his exclusive interview with the Olympics. com, the 24-year-old laid out, “The fact that I am bringing the Brazilian flag to World Cup ski racing, a sport this amazing country has yet to be represented in, feels like a true representation of my mission of creating a difference.” A brave attempt at a critical moment! But the target seems to be enormous””taking the entire Brazilian skiing community on his shoulders! So is there any quick route to reach the goalpost?

According to Lucas Braathen, there is. In his new camp, he wants to inspire the kids to live their dream of skiing sports. Through his performances in the Brazilian color, Lucas wants to promote that anyone can follow their dreams, irrespective of their class or color. Finding his love for the sport at eight, he exemplifies this set of words. Ultimately, Lucas drew attention with his concluding remark. “Your dream is yours to pursue and no one should take that away from you,” the skiing pro looked determined to leave his marks. But what draws him to Brazil, a South American country? Is there any root?

The skiing talent promotes a multicultural theme through his decision 

On April 19, 2000, Lucas Braathen was born in Oslo. However, his father is Norwegian, but from his mother’s side, he shares roots in Brazil. This root was later developed when he and his mother relocated to the South American nation. However, because of problems in his family, he quickly moved to Norway. Yet the root remained unshaken. To serve a quick view on that attachment, he once shared, “I’ve been going back to Brazil once every year since I was 11 years old. It’s half of me.” But his love for skiing was watered in Norway. Though it experienced a rough start.

In the early days, Braathen used to bank on his excuses to avoid the snow sport. He used to keep on showing his Brazilian roots for his inability to move his feet fast in the sport. But being a skiing enthusiast, Lucas’ father continued to force him to explore the sport. However, his resistance continued until one day when he noticed a ski group riding through the glissades. Since then, there has been no looking behind. Now, he wants to channel the same mojo in the Brazilian kids to find interest in the sport. After all, Lucas knows the transformation. And it is time to see a similar occurrence in Brazil.