Alpine Skiing
Marcel Hirscher confirms comeback: Skiing legend ready to race again
After a long break and a second major setback, many thought Hirscher was done. But with FIS wildcards secured, he’s back on the road to the World Cup.
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After years away from the sport, Marcel Hirscher made a surprise return - only to suffer a major injury that many believed would end his career for good. Now, against all expectations, he’s been cleared to race again, with FIS wildcards in hand and a clear path back to the World Cup circuit. It’s a return few thought possible – and one that marks Hirscher’s second attempt to return to the sport he once dominated.
The Austrian-Dutch skiing great – an eight-time consecutive overall World Cup champion who retired in 2019, and now competes for the Netherlands after previously representing Austria – has received medical clearance following a long and intensive recovery from a serious knee injury sustained earlier this year. With rehabilitation behind him and the full backing of his medical team, Hirscher has announced he is ready to rejoin the World Cup circuit.
Marcel Hirscher suffered a season-ending injury in December 2024
© Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool
Now call it a comeback
"Now call it a comeback," the 35-year-old declared. Last year, Hirscher was clear he didn’t consider his return a "comeback" – he’d retired on his own terms and wasn’t expecting to be back competing at the highest level. But after another major injury and a intense recovery, this time, the word fits.
Find out more about Marcel Hirscher in his episode of Winter Heroes:
11 min
Marcel Hirscher
Arguably the best male ski racer has returned from retirement to attempt the mother of all comebacks.
Overcoming injury: Hirscher’s tough rehab and strong mindset
Six and a half months ago, Hirscher suffered a cruciate ligament tear that required surgery and over 1,000 hours of rehab and physical training. The journey, he says, was both physically demanding and emotionally clarifying. “In the end, two questions remained: What do I want from life? What does life want from me?” Hirscher reflected. “Even in difficult moments, my answer never changed: I want to race again.”
Marcel Hirscher putting in work at this year's Wings for Life World Run
© Christoph Handl for Wings for Life World Run
In a significant boost to his comeback bid, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has granted Hirscher 17 remaining wild cards originally allocated last season when he first announced plans to return. Although injury curtailed that attempt, FIS has chosen to uphold the unused wildcards for this season, effectively allowing him to start in any World Cup race without needing to qualify through current FIS points.
Even in difficult moments, my answer never changed: I want to race again
FIS wildcards and new leadership role fuel Hirscher’s return
Marcel Hirscher is ready to race again
© Erich Spiess / Red Bull Content Pool
These wildcard entries are typically reserved for exceptional cases, such as athletes returning from retirement or injury, whose prior records merit direct access to competition. For Hirscher, whose résumé includes 67 World Cup wins and two Olympic gold medals, the gesture acknowledges not only his past achievements but his ongoing relevance to the sport.
Now at the helm of VAN DEER–Red Bull Sports, a company he co-founded to develop elite ski equipment, Hirscher’s return also marks a new chapter in his dual role as both competitor and brand leader. “We’re heading into our first Olympic winter at VAN DEER, and we’re all working toward a shared goal: making our skis and boots better for racing, so that both our athletes and customers benefit. That’s why it’s clear to me where I can contribute most - right at the heart of the racing scene, as part of the athlete team.”
While no firm date has been set for his first race, Hirscher plans to return to snow training in September, pending final medical approval. “At the moment, I’m shifting from the rehabilitation phase into full athlete mode, with more extensive sessions and higher intensity,” Hirscher says. “Training hard again is bringing me a lot of joy. It’s shaping up to be a very athletic summer."
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