It鈥檚 not just soccer anymore. Brazil is finding World Cup success in skiing now, too.
became the first Brazilian skier to finish on a World Cup podium when he placed second in a on Sunday.
Pinheiro Braathen celebrated the achievement in truly Brazilian 鈥 and Pinheiro 鈥 style: with , the Brazilian flag wrapped around his waist and cowboy boots on his feet.
鈥淲hat a moment to break out a dance in front of all these amazing fans here today. I came onto the circuit to make a difference. I came here to be myself and hopefully be an inspiration to the outcasts out there, to the people that feel a bit different, to follow their own path,鈥 Pinheiro Braathen said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a privilege to be able to be the first one to bring the Brazilian flag 鈥 something that I鈥檓 so proud of 鈥 up to a winter sport World Cup podium,鈥 he added.
Pinheiro Braathen鈥檚 mother is Brazilian and his father is Norwegian. He had raced for Norway until a little more than a year ago after getting into a dispute with the Norwegian ski federation following modeling work for a rival brand of the federation鈥檚 clothing supplier.
In March, Pinheiro Braathen for Brazil, a federation that had not been represented on Alpine skiing鈥檚 World Cup circuit since 2016.
Brazil has never won a medal at the Winter Olympics but now Pinheiro Braathen will likely be a contender at next season鈥檚 Milan-Cortina Games. So could Nicole Silveira, who finished third in a World Cup skeleton race in Pyeongchang, South Korea, last month for Brazil鈥檚 first podium result in a winter sport.
The only man who competed in Alpine skiing for Brazil at the 2022 Beijing Olympics was Michel Macedo, who didn鈥檛 finish his second slalom run.
Pinheiro Braathen's result got little coverage in Brazil on Sunday, which was also the day when the final round of the nation's soccer league was being played. But skiing is hardly followed in Brazil, where there is not much in the way of Alpine resorts. Argentina and Chile are better known as skiing destinations in South America.
Pinheiro Braathen won five World Cup races when he represented Norway: three slaloms and two giant slaloms. He also won the 鈥 overcoming a midseason appendectomy.
One of skiing鈥檚 most vibrant personalities, known for painting his fingernails and a taste for fashion, Pinheiro Braathen often cites Ronaldinho and Dennis Rodman as his idols. He noted how many challenges he鈥檚 had to overcome in the sport.
鈥淚t鈥檚 standing up against all the pressure and all the potential judgement that follows when going your own path,鈥 he said, noting that skiing is 鈥渁 quite masculine鈥 sport.
鈥淏eing someone (who) likes to dress a bit differently and do me, I just take pride in that and I hope that the history that I鈥檓 able to write today can represent the effect of following your own path and the potential that lies in just being who you are in order to be happy,鈥 Pinheiro Braathen added.
Having put down the fastest second run after placing fourth in the opening leg, Pinheiro Braathen finished a slim 0.12 seconds behind Swiss first-time winner Thomas Tumler to improve upon two fourth-place finishes earlier this season. He celebrated with skiing鈥檚 version of a mic drop, letting both of his skis fall to the snow as he faced a crowd that included a fan club wearing the yellow jerseys of Brazil鈥檚 national soccer team.
Up next, Pinheiro Braathen will aim for Brazil鈥檚 first victory on snow in giant slalom and slalom races in Val d鈥橧sere, France, next weekend 鈥 where his mom, Alessandra, who is from Sao Paulo, is expected to be on hand to cheer him on.
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AP Sports Writer Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo contributed.
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