(Vienna) The former world number one in alpine skiing, Austrian Marcel Hirscher, announced Wednesday his return to competition, but this time with the Netherlands, a surprise announcement five years after his retirement.
At 35, “I especially want to have the opportunity to participate in races for fun,” he explained in a press release from the Dutch federation (NSkiV).
It is in fact under the colors of his mother’s nation that he will now compete.
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.
“Marcel (Hirscher) is a world legend and a source of inspiration for all skiers,” he added.
Austria, where the ex-skier enjoys rock star status, reluctantly approved his request.
“In recent days we have learned that Marcel Hirscher is considering a return to the international circuit,” said the general secretary of the Austrian ÖSV federation, Christian Scherer.
“Of course, we greatly regret her decision to request a change of nation to join the Dutch body, but we ultimately supported her […] out of respect for him” and out of sporting spirit, he added.
Eight large crystal globes
Marcel Hirscher decided in September 2019 to hang up his spatulas, tired of the demands of the high level and the physical pressure 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.
The Austrian is the best skier in history thanks to his eight victories in the general classification of the World Cup between 2012 and 2019, which no one has achieved before him (the Luxembourger Marc Girardelli stopped at five , the Austrian Annemarie Moser-Pröll at six).
He also won two Olympic champion titles (slalom and alpine combined) in 2018 in PyeongChang (South Korea), five world champion titles (three in slalom, one in alpine combined and one in giant slalom) and six small globes. (Specialty World Cup) slalom and as much in giant slalom.
He is also a two-time 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.
Open games
Impressive in his perfectionism and consistency, Hirscher had continued to raise his level over the years, arousing respect and admiration among his opponents.
In the coming months, he will “focus on preparations” for the next season and his level will be evaluated, said the Dutch body.
Can this specialist in technical events return to the top despite his 35 years and this long break?
According to the coach of the ÖSV men’s team, Marko Pfeifer, quoted by the APA news agency, “it can happen 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 Frenchman Johan Clarey was crowned Olympic vice-champion in the downhill at the age of 41.
Since the retirement of the Austrian master, slalom has been by far the most indecisive discipline on the men’s world circuit – the only one not contested by world No. 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, will resume competition under the Brazilian colors of his mother.