Marcel Hirscher, 8-Time World Cup Champion, Plans Skiing Comeback for Netherlands

Marcel Hirscher, the eight-time overall World Cup champion in skiing, is planning a surprising return to competitive racing next season after a five-year retirement. In an unexpected move, the 35-year-old Austrian legend will compete for the Netherlands, his mother's country, instead of his native Austria.

The Austrian winter sports federation has released Hirscher and endorsed his change of nationality. Hirscher, who was born and raised in Austria to an Austrian father and a Dutch mother, said he still has the joy of skiing and wants to compete again. "This new project is best realized as a Dutch person," he explained.

Hirscher intends to participate in lower-level races in New Zealand in August to earn the necessary points to return to the World Cup circuit. His main goal is to compete at next season's world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

Why this matters: Hirscher's comeback is a major boost for winter sports in the Netherlands, which has never had a top racer of his caliber. His return also adds excitement to the upcoming ski racing season and could inspire more athletes to consider competing for different nations.

The Dutch skiing association expressed delight at Hirscher's decision, stating that they will benefit from his sporting contribution and wealth of knowledge and experience. The nation change allows Hirscher to compete on the Van Deer skis, a brand he helped create with his sponsor Red Bull after stepping away from the sport in 2019 following his record eighth straight overall World Cup title.

Hirscher's return follows that of another Red Bull athlete, Lucas Braathen, who is switching from Norway to Brazil, his mother's home nation. While Hirscher has not formally joined the Dutch association yet, his comeback has generated excitement in the skiing community. "It's like a 'transfer market' in ski racing," said former overall World Cup winner Aksel Lund Svindal.

It remains uncertain if Hirscher will extend his return to competition to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, where he has previously won two golds and a bronze. For now, the skiing world eagerly awaits the return of one of its greatest champions, this time competing under the Dutch flag.

Key Takeaways

• 8-time overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher plans to come out of 5-year retirement
• Hirscher will compete for the Netherlands, his mother's country, instead of Austria
• Hirscher aims to compete at next season's world championships in Austria
• Hirscher's comeback boosts winter sports in the Netherlands, a nation without top racers
• Hirscher's return follows another athlete switching nations, sparking a "transfer market" in skiing