Skiing legend Marcel Hirscher is poised to make a return to competitive racing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, having successfully recovered from a previous injury. The skiing icon has received clearance to participate in the upcoming World Cup season thanks to the newly introduced wild card rule.
Hirscher, a remarkable eight-time World Cup overall champion, had briefly come out of a five-year retirement last season. However, a significant setback occurred when he sustained a torn ACL in his left knee during a training session in December. This injury abruptly halted his comeback efforts.
On Instagram, Hirscher provided an update: “Rehabilitation has been progressing well, and now I’m back into athletic training. It’s incredibly rewarding to once again engage as a professional athlete.”
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has decided to carry over Hirscher’s 17 starts from the last season to the upcoming one. This decision marks a significant step towards his return to competitive skiing, and in his words, it truly signifies a comeback.
Hirscher, now 36, originally competed for Austria, but his recent return was under the banner of the Netherlands, recognizing his Austrian father and Dutch mother. Should Hirscher opt to participate in the Olympics next year, he sidesteps the need to vie for one of the four coveted starting positions on Austria’s formidable team. Instead, he benefits from the flexibility of representing the Netherlands, which currently lacks competitors of similar prowess.
The wild card rule empowers past champions to re-enter the World Cup scene without the burden of acquiring qualifying points. This provision also saw skiing star Lindsey Vonn returning to competition last season, ready to challenge boundaries with a newly equipped titanium knee as she eyes the Olympic stage in February.
During the last season, Hirscher managed to complete only one out of three races, achieving 23rd place in the giant slalom event hosted in Sölden, Austria. His journey through injury recovery entailed a rigorous commitment, with Hirscher putting in 1,000 hours of rehabilitation.
Reflecting on his goals and motivations, Hirscher remarked, “Ultimately, two pivotal questions persisted: What are my aspirations in life? And what is life asking of me? Even amid adversity, my answer held steady: I aspire to race once more.”
As part of his preparation, Hirscher plans to resume on-snow training in September. “Currently, my routine is transitioning from rehabilitation to full athlete mode. We’re focusing on extensive sessions and heightened intensity,” Hirscher emphasized. “The strenuous training regimen is invigorating and signals a highly active summer ahead.”
With a remarkable tally of 67 World Cup victories, Hirscher stands as the second most successful skier in men’s history, trailing only the legendary Ingemar Stenmark’s 86 wins. Hirscher’s Olympic accolades include two gold medals in the combined and giant slalom categories at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, along with a slalom silver from the 2014 Sochi Games.
The World Cup season is set to resume in Sölden this October. At the Milan-Cortina Games, the men’s skiing events are slated to take place in Bormio, while the women will compete in Cortina d’Ampezzo.