History will tell where it will be necessary to place this comeback, but in the meantime, the news is enough to thrill the ski world. Five years after his sporting retirement, in 2019, the Austrian Marcel Hirscher, a true legend of his sport with his eight big Crystal Globes and his two Olympic titles, will return to competition. The announcement did not come from him but from the Austrian Federation, which announced this Wednesday that it had accepted his request to “return to the international circuit” under the colors of the Netherlands, his mother’s country .
“Of course, we very much regret his decision to request a change of nation, but we ultimately supported him. Marcel has done enormous things for skiing and for us,” declared the general secretary of the Austrian Federation, Christian Scherer, this Wednesday. during a video call with media. Dutch or Austrian, the mystery now concerns the level at which Hirscher, aged 35, can claim to evolve.
In his absence, a new ogre took his place at the table in the person of Marco Odermatt. The Swiss, a specialist like him in giant slalom, but also very strong in speed, has won the last three World Cups. Was it the advent of a new boss on the circuit that motivated Hirscher? David Chastan believes it. “He must miss skiing, and he needs a challenge,” said the director of French alpine skiing. Seeing a boy like Odermatt, he wants to confront himself, to see if he can challenge him, to be the best again. »
“If he decides to come back, it’s because his body allows him”
The question of level, therefore. During these five years, the Austrian did not spend his time drinking mulled wine by the fireplace. “He talked, he did a lot of sport and especially skiing,” continues Chastan, who met him several times on the Austrian slopes testing skis for the brand he launched in 2021 ( Van Deer). “I think he has good mileage on the track, and anyway, if he decides to come back, it’s because his body allows him. I am not worried about that,” assures the French leader.
The big question mark actually concerns the steps to take to get to the starting gate in the World Cup. Because we will have to quickly regain our place among the best to claim correct bibs. Hirscher could thus go and participate in FIS competitions in the southern hemisphere in the fall, to glean both sensations and useful points in his quest.
Risk of damaging the legend?
There is no doubt that he will be watched from his first outings, even far from Europe. “It’s going to be an attraction,” salivates David Chastan. It will be interesting to see what our sport allows after long breaks, which has never really been done for a skier of this caliber. Faced with younger generations, will his job allow him to get by? Because that remains a sport of experience. If he gets chances, I’m sure he won’t miss them. He showed that it wasn’t his type. »
There remains the question of risk. From the outside, we are always a little afraid that this kind of feedback will tarnish the myth if it ever goes badly. The director of French alpine skiing does not see it from that angle. “He has much more to gain than to lose! He has already marked the history of his sport, it will remain whatever happens, considers Chastan. The only thing he risks is getting hurt. The rest is just a bonus. If he comes back and wins a race, it’s just going to amplify his legend. And if he doesn’t succeed, he will have tried and it will be respectable. »
As reported Ski Chrono, the first rumors currently point to a return for a season, with the world championships in Saalbach (February 2025), close to home, in the viewfinder. The first words from the person concerned are impatiently awaited.