Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Claims a First-Ever Alpine Ski World Cup Win for Brazil in Levi

ucas Pinheiro Braathen won the slalom season opener in Levi, securing Brazil's first-ever Alpine Ski World Cup victory. Pinheiro Braathen, who made his World Cup comeback last season after taking a year out, claimed five podium finishes last season. He has now secured the first victory for his mother's home country in the first slalom of the 2025–26 winter season.

Pinheiro Braathen already had another three Slalom wins and a Slalom Globe in the 2022-2023 winter season when racing for Norway. Pinheiro Braathen finished sixth in both the Slalom and Overall rankings last season, which was also a best-ever result for Brazil.

The 25-year-old returned today in Levi to the Top of the podium thanks to a sensational first run; he maintained his lead with an intelligent second run, only challenged by Noel's attack. He mastered both the flat and steep sections of the slope in Levi, thus earning his sixth World Cup victory.

"I don't know what to say. This journey has been so difficult and lonely. But I've followed my own path. I'm so grateful to everyone who believed in me. This isn't just a World Cup victory for me; it's a personal victory too. I hope I can inspire others to follow their own path," Braathen said in an ORF interview.

Reigning Olympic slalom champion Clément Noël finished 0.31 seconds behind. He has finished on the World Cup podium 30 times, all in slalom, and also claimed another podium in the team parallel in 2018.

Eduard Hallberg astonished everyone by finishing fifth in the first run with bib number 29 and used this excellent starting position to reach the podium for the first time in his career. The 22-year-old Finn's previous best result had been an eighth-place finish in the slalom in Gurgl a year ago. This was also the first time that Finland had achieved a podium finish in Levi. Before today, no Finnish skier had ever finished in the Top 10 in Levi. Kalle Palander achieved the best result in this home event, finishing 11th in the inaugural 2006–07 Levi race.

England's Laurie Taylor, with bib number 32, takes a stunning fourth place, just four hundredths of a second off the podium. Teammates Dave Ryding and Billy Major finished in 7th and 27th positions, respectively.