Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player of all time. © APA/afp / VINCENT LAFORET

Before Hirscher: These sports stars have returned

When athletes announce their retirement, a healthy dose of skepticism is appropriate. Because many of the greatest of all time didn't last long in retirement and returned.

24 April 2024

From: apa/dl

Others remained active without interruption into a biblical sporting age, thereby inflicting a few dents on their image. It's obviously difficult to step down at the zenith. This is currently also shown by exceptional skier Marcel Hirscher, who wants to return five years after his departure.

Eight-time overall World Cup winner Hirscher described his motivation as simply wanting to race “every now and then” because he enjoys it. “I resigned five years ago and am now 35 years old – you have to classify my idea accordingly,” he emphasized. However, anyone who knows even a little about the Salzburger's ambition will suspect that behind everything there is probably a desire for further success.

Michael Schumacher returned in the Mercedes. © APA/epa / LASZLO BELICZAY

Of course, there is no generally optimal time to say goodbye to being a successful athlete. One of the most fickle athletes in this regard was Michael Jordan. For many, the best basketball player in history said goodbye twice at the peak of his career - but both times it wasn't permanent.

After the first three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, “His Airness” first took his hat off in 1993 and tried his hand at baseball. He was motivated, among other things, by the recent murder of his father, who had wanted to see Michael become a professional baseball player. After the comeback in 1995, the “top bull” gifted Chicago with another three titles and retired again in 1998. From 2001 to 2003, when he celebrated his 40th birthday, he played again for the Washington Wizards.

From Schumacher to Brady

Michael Schumacher left Formula 2006 in October 1. On July 29, 2009, he announced his comeback for Ferrari, which initially only failed because of the doctors' veto. On December 22, 2009, the conclusion of the contract with the then new Mercedes factory team was finally announced. The German drove for three more seasons, but only made it onto the podium once again in third place. He is still considered the midwife of the series champion from 2014 to 2021.

The comeback of the deceased is also legendary in Formula 1 Niki Lauda. In 1979, the Viennese retired during the Grand Prix weekend in Montreal. “Why should I drive in circles with the others like an idiot?” he asked. Just three years later he had found his desire again. McLaren brought him out of early retirement, and it paid off: in 1984, Lauda won the World Cup for a third time.

Quarterback superstar Tom Brady has also returned. © APA/getty / MIKE EHRMANN

Annemarie Moser-Pröll said goodbye to the Ski World Cup in 1975 at the age of 22; she returned a year later and won Olympic gold in 1980. Thomas Muster originally wanted to play his last match on the ATP tour in 1999, but in 2010 and 2011 he played again at the tournament in the Wiener Stadthalle. Also other tennis stars like Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe or Martina hingis some came back several times and played well into their 40s. Martina Navratilova even won the mixed doubles competition at the US Open in 2006 just a few weeks before her 50th birthday.

Football superstar Tom Brady was only able to let go for a month and a half before announcing his comeback in 2022. By then he had already celebrated seven Super Bowl victories. After another season it was over again - but rumors are currently doing the rounds that Brady (46) could come back again. His former teammate Rob Gronkowski left the hamster wheel sport in 2019 at the age of 30 and returned a year later - alongside Brady. He won the title again with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The greats have returned

Ski jumper Janne Ahonen fits seamlessly into this group. After announcing the end of his active career in March 2008, the Finn made three comebacks by 2017. The comeback is also omnipresent in boxing: Muhammad Ali ended his career in 1978 with a successful revenge against Leon Spinks, but came back again in 1980 and clearly lost two fights. George Foreman stepped back into the ring at 45 and became the oldest heavyweight world champion. Evander Holyfield has made no fewer than five comebacks.

Jaromir Jagr is still playing at the age of 52. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Patrick Smith

But even without retirement, some people just can't get enough. Ice hockey legend Jaromir Jagr At 52, he is still chasing the puck in the Czech Republic's first league, "Pterosaur" Noriaki Kasai from Japan is still sailing over the jumps at 51. The Englishman bet in football Sir Stanley Matthews reached a milestone in endurance by playing until shortly after his 50th birthday.

A counter example is double Olympic champion Petra Kronberger, who actually permanently retired from active skiing when she was just 23. Tennis icon Steffi Graf drew a line at the age of 30. At the age of 31, Nico Rosberg became Formula 1 world champion for the first time and declared his career over five days later in Vienna.