Alpine skiing-Brazilian rebel Pinheiro Braathen inspired by Italian hero Tomba in bid for historic gold

MILAN, Feb 7 : Not surprisingly for a man who brings a very distinct flair to Alpine skiing, Brazilian slalom specialist Lucas Pinheiro Braathen idolises Italian great Alberto Tomba.

Slalom king Tomba was pure box office during a career that brought him three Olympic gold medals and 50 World Cup victories spread across slalom and giant slalom.

Pinheiro Braathen, who switched allegiance from Norway to represent his mother's country of birth in 2024 after a year away from the circuit, competes in the same disciplines and will be seeking to make history next week by winning South America's first medal at the Winter Olympics.

If he manages it, Tomba can take some credit.

"He is my hero. I mean, if you're a ski fan, you are an Alberto Tomba fan," the 25-year-old told Reuters at Casa Brazil on Saturday, the day after he carried the flag at the opening ceremony in the San Siro. "Even if you aren't a ski fan, you might still be. And I think that is what defines Tomba's legacy.

"He went beyond being a ski racer, not because he tried to, just because of the person that he truly is. He is an outcast. He is someone that brought a difference by simply being who he is, and that has inspired me a lot."

Pinheiro Braathen, like Tomba, stands out from the crowd. His flowing hair, painted nails, fashion statements and occasional DJ appearances live up to his self-confessed status as a bit of a rebel in the conservative world of ski racing.

The now 59-year-old Tomba, who helped light the Olympic cauldron in Milan on Friday, had a reputation for volatile behaviour including karate-kicking a photographer and abusing his position as a policeman to beat Christmas traffic. 

Pinheiro Braathen's fallout with the Norwegian federation was largely to do with