June 17, 2025 — Olympic snowboarder Pat Burgener has officially switched his national allegiance from Switzerland to Brazil, the home country of his mother. The move, approved by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) on June 13, marks a significant shift in the career of the two-time Olympic halfpipe competitor.
Burgener, 31, previously represented Switzerland in two Olympic Games and has been a consistent figure on the international snowboarding scene. He expressed his gratitude to Switzerland in a heartfelt message on Instagram: “Thank you Switzerland for all these amazing years! Forever grateful to represent my mother’s country now.”
The transition was first approved by Swiss-Ski, Switzerland’s governing ski and snowboard body, before receiving final approval from the FIS Council. Burgener’s change of nation follows a pattern seen among other athletes later in their careers. Louie Vito, for example, changed his representation from the United States to Italy ahead of the 2022 Olympics, despite a successful past Olympic run with Team USA.
Burgener brings a strong competitive record with him to Brazil. He earned bronze medals at the World Championships in 2017 (Sierra Nevada) and 2019 (Park City), and secured a victory at the European Cup Premium halfpipe competition in Laax earlier this year. In March, he placed seventh at both the Calgary Snow Rodeo and the World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
He ended the 2024–2025 season ranked 20th on the FIS snowboard points list. Known for his outgoing personality and musical talents, Burgener has captured fans’ attention both on and off the snow. His playful behavior at past Olympic Games, including airport antics and village performances, has made him a fan favorite. “I was like, this is the Olympics, I just want to have so much freaking fun!” he told Olympics.com about his 2022 Games experience.
Looking ahead, Burgener will aim to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The Games will officially run from February 6 to 22, 2026, with snowboard halfpipe qualifiers scheduled for February 11. However, the competition begins a day earlier with the Big Air qualifiers on February 5.
To compete in Italy, Burgener must first earn a spot by participating in FIS-sanctioned qualifying events leading up to the Games. As he begins this new chapter in his career representing Brazil, fans will be watching closely to see how he performs on the road to Milan.