More than 9,800 km separate Norway from Brazil.
However, Lucas Braathen will move from one country to another in the blink of an eye.
The 23-year-old skier, winner of the small slalom globe in 2023 but also a specialist in the giant, will make his return to the circuit.
He left last October, after a conflict with the Norwegian federation over his image rights.
He will now represent Brazil, the country where his mother is from.
“I am very proud to represent the country where I discovered my love of sport,” said the athlete.
I missed not getting up in the morning to become one of the best in the world, I missed being able to ski in front of tens of thousands of people and put on a show too.
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The Norwegian federation has agreed to transfer its ski license to its Brazilian counterpart.
Thanks to this, Lucas Braathen will be able to participate in the next World Cup events, but also keep his points with the International Ski Federation (FIS).
And therefore have good bibs during the slaloms and giants.
“It’s difficult to leave my Norwegian coaches and teammates,” the skier nevertheless admitted.
There are drawbacks to every decision.
Without them, I would not have been the athlete or the man I am today.
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“But I am very happy to continue my journey by being a close friend of all these people.
The Brazilian part of my family is very proud of my choice.
I grew up going there every year, then a little less as I became an athlete.
But my passion for sport was born there, in the Sao Paulo region,” he concluded.
In 2026, in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy), he could become the first Brazilian in history to win a medal at the Winter Games.