Hirscher continues after cruciate ligament tear

Marcel Hirscher is adding another season to the Alpine Ski World Cup. "I am ready for another season, now you can call it a comeback," announced the Salzburg native, who competes for the Netherlands, on Wednesday via Instagram in English. This followed a decision by the World Federation (FIS), which allows the 36-year-old to keep his "Protected Ranking." The eight-time overall World Cup winner had announced his retirement in September 2019, and in the fall of 2024, the comeback happened.

Cruciate Ligament Tear in December

In Sölden, Hirscher, who now competes for his mother's homeland, reached 23rd place in the giant slalom in October. After two more races that went less well for him, he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his left knee during training on the Reiteralm on December 2.

"More than a thousand hours of rehab, therapy, and build-up training in 197 days since my surgery, that was a lot of time to think. In the end, two questions arise: What do I want from life? What does life want from me? Even in frustrating moments, my answer to both questions has always remained the same: To race again!" Hirscher explained in a statement about his renewed comeback in the Olympic winter.

Decisive for his decision was that the FIS announced that the two-time Olympic champion and seven-time world champion can carry over the 17 wildcards left from last season into the coming season. He can therefore continue to start with number 31.

Olympic Games with Hirscher?

Hirscher is preparing for a "sporty summer." "Currently, it is transitioning from the rehab phase to the athlete mode with higher training volumes and higher loads. Training so intensively again brings me a lot of joy," explained the winner of 67 World Cup races. In September, and after getting the green light from the doctors, he wants to start skiing again, but when exactly he will return to the ski circuit is still open. "When I can finally be at the start of a World Cup race again is not yet certain. But, if it were up to me, sooner rather than later," emphasized Hirscher.

The World Cup season begins, as in previous years, in Sölden on the last weekend of October (25th/26th October), with the highlight being the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 6th to 22nd, 2026.

(APA/Red)

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