Is Marcel Hirscher quitting?

The eight-time overall World Cup winner Marcel Hirscher described the decision about his future as the “hardest of my life”. Coach Michael Pircher explained in the APA interview that he had no role in this decision-making. “As long as Marcel wants, I will continue, of course,” the ski superstar is assured of the support of his Styrian companion.

In the World Cup winter that ended this week, Hirscher put his wife and son first, saved on training days and made use of his resources. With ten victories this season in the World Cup, the big and two small balls as well as gold and silver at the World Cup, the Salzburg man seems to have succeeded excellently in combining work and family, and he also took part in every planned race. “Thanks to Laura,” said Hirscher.

“Marcel has to decide with himself and his wife what happens next, he has to decide for himself. I won't try to influence him, that's not my job. If he stops, it is the right decision and the same is true if he continues. There is no wrong decision, he just has to find it for himself,” says Pircher. “I have been able to work with him for more than ten years now. Whatever the outcome, I will fully support him.”

After winning the ball, the air is out Pircher isn't tired of winning either, but people have long been measuring themselves using their own standards. “If I'm honest, you're most happy about a win, of course. You should still be able to be happy about a podium. When someone is so successful, it just becomes normal. That's how sad that is. But you don't have to kid yourself, we're so ambitious that we're no longer so happy about sixth place.” Hirscher came sixth in the giant slalom on Saturday, and a lot of things didn't add up. The Norwegian Rasmus Windingstad came second behind compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen on the World Cup podium for the first time in his career. “The Norwegians were so happy,” Pircher observed with benevolence. “When you get on the podium for the first time, it’s something special. The trainer is extremely happy about a partial success. Just as we are happy about the overall World Cup.”

On Saturday, Hirscher fought for third place in the slalom despite the salt slope and the voltage drop; he later explained that it was the maximum of that day. “It's always been that way. When the bag was closed and the pressure was gone, a certain amount of tension was lost. You try to maintain it, but it's difficult. If it was about something else, it would be different,” said Pircher. The journey to Soldeu will take place on Friday; the coach would have planned training sessions with his protégé on Wednesday and Thursday. "Let's see."

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Is Marcel Hirscher quitting?

The ski world is puzzling over the sporting future of superstar Marcel Hirscher. Will the 8-time overall World Cup winner from Salzburg end his career after the final in Andorra?

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