Marcel Hirscher talks about possible comeback

Will he come back again or will he definitely stop? This question was probably the most frequently asked on Friday afternoon at the Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. There, Marcel Hirscher temporarily pushed the active stars of the scene into the background.

14. February 2025

From: fop/apa

Marcel Hirscher visited the World Championships in Salzburg for the first time in person on Friday. He celebrated with Gold medalist Raphael Haaser – although his mere presence often drew attention away from the sporting action. He was a sought-after man in the finish area.

wants to announce the decision as to whether he will continue his active career as a ski racer around the World Cup finals at the end of March in Sun Valley in the USA. "It's ultimately about the environment, that's the last possible time to say yes or no," said the Salzburg native on Friday on the sidelines of the men's World Cup giant slalom in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. He already has a tendency, he said, but he didn't want to reveal it.

decision at the World Cup final

Hirscher made his comeback as a racer at the beginning of this season after a five-year break. In October, the 35-year-old, who now competes for the Netherlands, his mother's home country, finished 23rd in the giant slalom in Sölden. After two more races that didn't go so well for him, Hirscher tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee during training on the Reiteralm on December 2nd.

“The doctors are very satisfied” Marcel Hirscher

"You can't change it anyway, I'm making the best of it. The doctors are all very happy and so am I. I haven't had a single boring day so far because rehab involves so much," he said about his recovery process.

Marcel Hirscher during his visit to Saalbach-Hinterglemm. © APA / BARBARA GINDL

Before the giant slalom, he watched every race of the Ski World Championships "on the couch." "Austria has once again shown what is possible at a Ski World Championship. Advertising for skiing, great weather, cool slopes, mega performance from the athletes. So I am very proud that the Ski World Championships are being held like this," said Hirscher. The sadness about not being able to take part himself "is now very limited."