Ski legend Hirscher makes a spectacular comeback and will compete for the Netherlands

NOS Sports•today, 08:52

Seven-time world and two-time Olympic champion Marcel Hirscher will make his return to skiing as a Dutchman. The Austrian Ski Association has announced that it will allow Hirscher to change his skiing nationality.

“As an Austrian ski association, we have of course tried very hard to offer Marcel the best possible conditions for his return to the sport. We deeply regret his decision to request a change of nation to the Dutch Ski Association, but in the end we it supported.”

The Dutch ski association has informed NOS that it will issue a statement later in the day.

The 35-year-old Hirscher, who is considered one of the best alpine skiers ever, retired from his career in 2019. He has an Austrian father and Dutch mother and always played for Austria during his career.

The skier would plan to earn the necessary points in New Zealand this summer to return to the highest level next winter. The big goal is the 2025 World Cup in Saalbach, not far from his home in Austria.

Hirscher won the overall World Cup eight times in his impressive career and achieved 67 victories in World Cup competitions. In 2018, he won gold in the giant slalom and the combined at the Pyeongchang Games. Four years earlier he won silver in the slalom in Sochi.