Lucas Braatnen Sölden Press Conference GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl

Over, over, over – Lucas Braathen has just announced at a press conference in Sölden, to everyone’s surprise, that he is ending his career as a ski racer. The recent dispute with the Norwegian association was too much of a bad thing.

The ski world is buzzing with surprise and shock. Lucas Braathen has resigned as a ski racer with immediate effect. “I’m done. I have always followed my dreams and done what makes me happy. That is my definition of success. Not the lucrative cooperation agreements in which I am involved. But in the last few months, I just wasn’t happy anymore,” said Lucas Braathen today (October 27th) at a press conference in Sölden. The 23-year-old Norwegian declared his career as a ski racer over and immediately added: “Now I’m happy for the first time in six months and I feel free again for the first time in years.” The Norwegian explained through tears that he had made this decision around four weeks ago and communicated it to his teammates on Thursday evening.

At the press conference in Sölden, Braathen, who has already posted a short thank you video on social media, did not appear in the Norwegian Ski Association’s clothing. The winner of the Discipline Crystal Globe for the best slalom skier in 2022/23 wore a purple cardigan and a white T-shirt. This is also a sign of the latest developments in the relationship between the athlete and “his” association. He had to give up his dreams and neglect his friends to function in the skiing system. “And I’m no longer willing to do that anymore.” The 23-year-old continued that it was difficult for him to imagine returning. The “ski world” would have to be entirely different for him even to be able to imagine a comeback.

During the press conference, Braathen sharply criticized the Norwegian association, which he is in a clinch. Marketing rights have repeatedly led to differences between athletes and the association. Braathens recently took part in an advertising campaign for the fashion brand “J. Lindberg,” which caused a stir. The reason: the association has concluded a sponsorship agreement with the clothing manufacturer “Helly Hansen” and has guaranteed the company industry exclusivity. Yesterday (October 26th), the association announced that they fined Braathen for his misconduct but decided not to impose a ban. 

Braathen has felt “treated with respect” by the association for a long time. However, regarding the most recent incident, he was insightful and spoke of his mistake. But this apology didn’t happen without a swipe at the association. “I’m sorry for stooping to the level of the Norwegian Ski Association and treating them the way they treat us. I apologized to Helly Hansen and my teammates.”

Braathen also criticized the FIS. You have to work with the climate and not against the climate and keep the focus on what is good for the sport and the climate, said the Norwegian.

For Braathen, whose mother is Brazilian, there is the possibility of a problem-free nation change. It is reasonable to assume that the Norwegian association would stand in the way and temporarily ban the athlete (for a year). After that, Braathen would have to basically start all over again in terms of requirements (points).

With the retirement of Lucas Braathen, ski racing is losing a reflective athlete who is “special” in many ways. Externally, the Norwegian showed his personality with colorful fingernails, a wild hairstyle and non-mainstream clothing. That’s why he was often attacked and vilified – especially on social media. Braathen is a bird of paradise,  meant in the best possible way. But traditional ski racing is apparently not yet ready for this. “I’m now going on my own little journey to find out where it takes me. I am very excited. And I am grateful for everything I have experienced. “That’s priceless,” Braathen concluded his monologue at the press conference.

Felix Neureuther’s resignation triggered a funny reaction. The former ski racing star writes on social media, among other things: “If it’s just because of the association, then I’ll marry you and you’ll race for Germany in the future. My wife would be completely okay with that.”