Braathen: The bird of paradise burns on Sölden

Exactly twelve months ago, he surprisingly announced his retirement. Now he is ready with a new team - "Team Pinheiro" - to write another chapter of his career in Sölden. The 23-year-old athlete, who has both Brazilian and Norwegian roots, split from the Norwegian ski team at the time and will compete for Brazil in the future. In a press conference, Braathen appeared highly motivated and explained that he wanted to return to the top of the world immediately.

"It feels great to be back," said Braathen, reflecting on his time off from skiing. During this time he worked as a model and DJ and gained a lot of valuable experience. "I learned a lot about myself, it was like half a year in the school of life," he explained. He made the decision to return to the slopes in January 2023 and has been looking forward to the first race of the season in Sölden ever since.

During a press conference, he answered the curious questions of journalists. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

"Sölden has a very special meaning for me. This time even more so because I'm starting anew here," Braathen continued. "It feels like I still have a lot to do in this sport. I believe there is room for change and I want to play a central role in it. For me, skiing is the most aesthetic sport in the world with competitions in the most beautiful natural landscapes. We have the opportunity to bring this closer to many more people," explains the 24-year-old, who wants to take skiing to the world. "In the end, it's about entertainment and exciting stories - about why one athlete is faster than the other."

Clear goals in mind With Braathen's comeback, another Brazilian returns to the big ski stage after Jhonatan Longhi, who competed in eight World Cup races between 2010 and 2014. "It's something special to represent a country in a sport where you are the only athlete," he emphasized.

"For the first time, my grandmother will really understand what skiing means because she can see me on TV. In Brazil, the only thing that counts is winning, no matter what sport. When someone succeeds, the whole country takes notice and I want to be at the top again."

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Braathen: The bird of paradise burns on Sölden

One year after his unexpected retirement, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is finally returning to the big stage of skiing. On Thursday, the Brazilian answered questions from journalists at a press conference.

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