Marcel Hirscher Returns to Skiing

Marcel Hirscher is returning to skiing after five years in retirement. He plans to compete for the Netherlands, his mother's country, instead of his native Austria.

The Austrian winter sports federation announced that it had released the 35-year-old Hirscher and endorsed his nation change.

Hirscher said on Instagram that the joy of skiing never left him and it's just so much fun for him.

The nation change allows Hirscher to compete on Van Deer skis, the brand he helped create with Red Bull, his sponsor.

Van Deer is not on the list of brands approved for use by the Austrian federation.

Hirscher plans to enter lower-level races in New Zealand in August to get the necessary points to return to the World Cup circuit.

His main aim is to compete at next season's world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

Patrick Riml, Red Bull's ski racing director, said that Hirscher has been training the whole season and plans to compete in both slalom and giant slalom.

Hirscher retired in 2019 following his record eighth straight overall World Cup title, with 67 World Cup race wins, second behind men's record holder Ingemar Stenmark's 86.

French skier Victor Muffat-Jeandet said it won't be easy for Hirscher to win, as the sport has evolved in five years.

Hirscher's return follows that of another Red Bull athlete, Lucas Braathen, who is switching from Norway to Brazil, his mother's home nation.

Braathen wrote to Hirscher on Instagram, saying he's spent hours studying his performance and can't wait to ski with him.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) rules require skiers to comply with certain regulations to change national eligibility.

As of 2019, Hirscher held the record for the most overall World Cup titles, with eight consecutive wins from 2012 to 2019.