At 35, Marcel Hirscher, considered the best skier in history thanks to his eight victories in the general classification of the World Cup between 2012 and 2019, will return to service. The Austrian “above all wants to have the opportunity to participate in competitions for fun,” he explained, Wednesday April 24, in a press release from the Dutch Ski Federation (NSkiV). It is in fact under the colors of his mother’s nation that he will compete during the 2024-2025 season. It’s “a great honor,” reacted Frits Avis, technical director of the NSkiV, unaccustomed to welcoming such big names in a country whose highest point rises to 322 meters above sea level.
Austria, where the ex-skier enjoys rock star status, reluctantly approved his request. “Of course, we greatly regret his decision to request a change of nation to join the Dutch body but we ultimately supported it (…) out of esteem for him” and out of sporting spirit, declared the general secretary of the Austrian federation ÖSV, Christian Scherer.
Marcel Hirscher decided to hang up his career in September 2019, tired of the demands of the high level and the physical pressure he had endured from a young age. He had since launched a ski brand. “I am no longer ready to pay the price,” explained the slalom king, saying he no longer had the necessary motivation. But at the start of 2022, when he opened the legendary Kitzbühel descent, he confided that he “missed” skiing.
“It can go very quickly.”
The Austrian, whose rigor impresses, has won almost everything: eight-time winner of the World Cup, he also won two Olympic champion titles (slalom and alpine combined) in 2018 in Pyeongchang (South Korea), five titles of world champion (three in slalom, one in combined and one in giant slalom) and six small globes (Specialty World Cup) in slalom and as many in giant slalom. He is also twice world team champion, in 2013 and 2015. With 67 World Cup victories, he was only missing the holy grail of the white circus: the mark of the Swede Ingemar Stenmark, absolute reference among men with 86 races won.
In the coming months, he will “focus on preparations” for the next season and his level will be assessed, said the Dutch body. Can he return to the top despite his 35 years and this long break? According to the coach of the Austrian men’s team, Marko Pfeifer, quoted by the APA news agency, “it can go very quickly.” In slalom, others have distinguished themselves at an advanced age such as the Austrian Mario Matt or the Swede André Myhrer, while the French Johan Clarey was crowned Olympic vice-champion in downhill at the age of 41.
Since the Austrian’s retirement, slalom has been by far the most indecisive discipline on the men’s world circuit – the only one not contested by world number 1 Marco Odermatt -, with four different winners of the specialty globe in recent years.
In addition to Marcel Hirscher, the field will welcome another returner under a new flag next year: the winner of the 2023 globe Lucas Braathen, retired early due to a conflict with the Norwegian federation, who will resume competition under the colors of Brazil, his mother’s country.
