Marcel Hirscher Returns to Skiing

Marcel Hirscher is returning to skiing after a 5-year retirement, planning to compete for the Netherlands.

The Austrian winter sports federation released Hirscher, allowing him to switch nations.

Marcel Hirscher said on Instagram, "the joy of skiing never left, it's just so much fun for me."

He will compete on Van Deer skis, a brand he helped create with Red Bull, his sponsor.

The Dutch federation made it easier for Hirscher to put this project into practice, he said.

He didn't want to take resources from young athletes in Austria, Hirscher added.

The Austrian federation tried to offer Hirscher the best possible conditions but supported his decision.

Patrick Riml, Red Bull's ski racing director, said Hirscher plans to enter lower-level races in New Zealand in August.

He aims to compete at next season's world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

Hirscher has been training the whole season, testing his equipment on snow almost every day.

He plans to compete in both slalom and giant slalom, Riml said.

Marcel Hirscher retired in 2019 with a record 8 overall World Cup titles, and 67 World Cup race wins as of that date.

His return follows that of Lucas Braathen, who is switching from Norway to Brazil.

Braathen wrote to Hirscher on Instagram, "I've spent hours studying your performance, attempting to integrate bits into my own movement patterns."

Hirscher's main aim is to compete at the highest level again, despite the sport evolving in the past 5 years.

French skier Victor Muffat-Jeandet said, "it won't be easy to win."

Marcel Hirscher was born to an Austrian father and a Dutch mother, Sylvia, and was coached by his father, Ferdinand.

He is 35 years old, the same age as Muffat-Jeandet.

As of his retirement in 2019, Hirscher's 67 World Cup wins were second behind Ingemar Stenmark's 86.

Mikaela Shiffrin holds the overall record with 97 wins as of that date.