Why does ski legend Hirscher choose the Netherlands and what else can he do? ‘No worries about fitness’

NOS Sports•today, 12:16

The 2025 World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, as the main objective, and the Winter Games a year later in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo as a more than interesting final event. Five years after Marcel Hirscher retired, the 35-year-old Austrian has set his sights on a more than remarkable return to skiing. On behalf of the Netherlands, the country of his mother Sylvia de Vlieg.

Two Olympic gold medals, seven world titles, eight World Cup final victories and 67 victories in the same World Cup circuit. Hirscher, widely regarded as one of the best skiers of all time, won everything there is to win during his career in slalom and giant slalom. Why does he return to the highest level at the age of 35?

Hirscher’s initial response was short and concise. “Just. Because I like it.”

Maarten Meiners (32) is surprised by the news. The fact that Hirscher is making his comeback is already a great special in his eyes. “The fact that he chose the Netherlands is completely special. Hirscher is the best of all time in skiing. A phenomenon. There has not been a better skier,” says the now retired skier, who finished eighteenth at the Winter Games in Beijing in 2022. in the giant slalom.

Meiners has experienced Hirscher extensively during his career. “I don’t know him really well, but he was always friendly and regularly said hello to me in Dutch. He speaks a fair amount of Dutch. After he retired in 2019, he still spent a lot of time on the ski slopes. a lot of testing for his own equipment. He had to continuously show that he was still fit and fast. Don’t worry about his condition. He will be there soon.”

Meiners does not know the exact reasons for Hirscher’s choice. But he can imagine that the commercial side also played a role in choosing the Netherlands. “As a skier for the Netherlands, I could decide a lot for myself, give my sponsors a place on my ski suit. In large ski countries such as Austria and Switzerland, this is a lot more difficult. The associations there are more powerful and have their own policy. Because Hirscher has his own interests, could that play a role in his choice. However, I have not yet heard his explanation.”

2018: Hirscher speaks quite a bit of Dutch

What can also play a role is Olympic qualification. “If the Netherlands were to win a quota spot in alpine skiing for Milan, it is certain that Hirscher will fill it soon. In Austria, the competition is of course much, much greater. Hirscher no longer has to prove anything, so it is also possible that he will use Austria’s talents doesn’t want to get in the way. He’s going to do what he likes, just ski at the top level again.”

Hirscher has to work his way back up in the competition circuit. In the giant slalom, for example, he occupies 356th place in the world rankings. Then you have no right to start in the World Cup. He is still 85th in the slalom. Meiners expects that Hirscher will quickly join the world top by participating in FIS competitions in New Zealand in the summer, for example. “Hirscher doesn’t want to go off. Of course, he hasn’t forgotten how to ski either.”

“A big win-win situation for both parties,” the technical director of the Dutch Ski Association, Wopke de Vegt, calls the sensational transfer. Not only the mountain of experience that Hirscher brings with him, but also the share he has in his own ski brand Van Deer Red Bull Sports can help Dutch skiing in his view.

“There has been enormous development in the field of equipment in recent years. Marcel has a great deal of knowledge in this area. Dutch skiers can emulate this. This applies not only to the current generation, but also to the youth that is coming. His arrival offers great opportunities for Dutch snow sports.”

In turn, according to De Vegt, Hirscher can make use of the expertise that Dutch sport in general has. “We are among the top 3 in the world in terms of knowledge and skills. There are also opportunities for him to improve himself.”

A few months ago, Hirscher’s management reported to the Dutch Ski Association with the suggestion that Hirscher could return to the sport on behalf of the Netherlands. “We immediately saw an opportunity for success,” says De Vegt. “When the greatest skier ever makes a request like that, you don’t have to think about it.”

The details about the collaboration have yet to be completed, the ‘td’ emphasizes. “In any case, I am happy that we have already started this process. With a view to the upcoming Olympic Games, obtaining a Dutch passport and other necessary paperwork in a timely manner will in any case not be a problem.”

Hirscher will follow his own route within Dutch skiing towards the Milan Winter Games 2026, De Vegt said. “In Austria he always formed a team within the team, with his own specialists around him and his own program. He has amply proven that this concept works particularly well for him. He will therefore work in the same way with us.”