Ski superstar Marcel Hirscher. © APA / EXPA/JFK

Hirscher and Braathen in one team? That's what lies behind it

The unbelievable has come true: Marcel Hirscher is making his comeback five years after his resignation. Will there also be a collaboration with the second exotic comebacker Lucas Braathen?

26 April 2024

From: det

2024 is already the year of sensational comebacks. After Lucas Braathen, Marcel Hirscher is now returning to the ski circus. Both are hunting for victories and points for exotic countries. Braathen starts for Brazil, Hirscher for the Netherlands.

It would only be logical if the two superstars would train together in the future - after all, they have the same main sponsor, compete in the same disciplines (slalom and giant slalom) and do not have strong training partners because of their exotic teams.

The ex-coach as a new coach?

In addition - and this has recently been the starting point for speculation - Braathen will be trained by Mike Pircher during his comeback. The coach who stood by Hirscher's side for years and celebrated huge successes with him.

It was recently reported in various media that coach Mike Pircher had rejected his former protégé for future cooperation. But this is not the case. Michael Holzer, Marcel Hirscher's communications manager, says: “It is true that there is (yet) no plan for synergies between the 'Lucas Braathen Project' and the 'Marcel Hirscher Project', which has a completely different content, and cannot be is due to the passage of time.”

It is wrong, says Holzer, “that Mike Pircher has given or wants to give Marcel Hirscher a turn down or could even give one. It is true that – if there are concrete plans – there will of course be synergies in training, but not a training community in the common interpretation because both athletes have their own individual setup.