Hirscher cleared for another World Cup comeback at 36
The 2018 double Olympic gold medallist, and winner of a record eight overall World Cups as an Austrian, last October ended five years of retirement to compete for his mother's country the Netherlands.
He suffered a cruciate ligament tear in December and underwent surgery but announced in a video on his Instagram account on Wednesday that, 197 days later, he was ready to go again.
"Rehab was going on quite well, and now we are back in athletic training. This is super fun, being back a professional athlete again," he said.
"I heard FIS made a decision that I am allowed to take my 17 (unused) starts from last year's season into the upcoming season. So that means I'm ready for another season (of) ski racing. And I think now you can call it a comeback."
While Hirscher would have no chance of making the Austrian Olympic team, a superpower in the sport, the Netherlands offers a far easier route to Milan-Cortina 2026 if he can stay clear of injury.
He entered only three races last year, with a best result of 23rd in a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, leaving him 17 unused wildcards.
The World Cup allows former top skiers to return as wildcards without having to secure qualifying points.
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, now 40, is also hoping to ski at the Olympics after returning to the World Cup as a wildcard last season.
"In the end, two questions remained: What do I want from life? What does life want from me?" said Hirscher, winner of 67 World Cup races. "Even in difficult moments, my answer never changed: I want to race again."
Hirscher, who plans to return to snow training in September, said he also wanted to compete again as an athlete to help his ski equipment company improve their racing skis and boots.
The World Cup men's season starts on October 26 with a giant slalom in Soelden.
The Olympics start on February 6, with the men's Alpine ski races in the resort of Bormio.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
GB sprinter Prescod retires from athletics aged 29
British sprinter Reece Prescod says athletics pushed him "physically, mentally, and emotionally" in ways he "never imagined possible" as he announced his decision to retire from the 29-year-old has hung up his running spikes after a decade as a professional which saw participate in three World Championships and the 2020 Olympic is the fourth fastest British man ever over 100m, with a personal best of 9.93 seconds, a tenth of a second behind Zharnel Hughes' national won a silver medal in the 100m at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, and picked a bronze in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene. London-born Prescod, who represented Enfield and Haringey Athletic Club, reached the semi-finals of the 100m at Tokyo 2020 in his only appearance at an Olympics."Athletics has taught me invaluable lessons, the true meaning of hard work, dedication, and discipline," Prescod said in a post on his Instagram account., external"I have been fortunate enough to travel the world, compete at the highest level, and represent my country with pride. "I look forward to contributing to sport and performance in new, meaningful ways, inspiring others to chase their potential with the same passion that drove me."
Rhyl Journal
26 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Russell Martin's post-Motherwell Rangers criticism came from ‘love and care'
The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about 'egos' and accusing some of 'self-preservation'. Martin was speaking again at the club's training ground ahead of the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night, where a play-off tie against Austrian outfit Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaits the winners. 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss, who replied 'hopefully he will be in it, we will wait and see', when asked if new signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, will be included in the squad. 'We are here, myself, Gilly (Matt Gill, assistant), the coaches, ultimately for the players. 🎙️ Russell Martin spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday's match against Viktoria Plzeň. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 'We're here to win football matches, but as coaches day to day, we are here to help the players. 'That's our job, to help them win, to help them develop, to help them improve and understand why, to help them enjoy playing for a club like this, because I don't think too many of them have enjoyed it enough to play for this amazing football club, because it's not always easy. 'I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. 'If they know me as a person, the people who do know me, they know it comes from a place of love and to help them and to want them to be better. ✍️ We are today delighted to announce the signing of Finnish international Oliver Antman on a four-year-deal. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 'So I think when it comes from that place, whatever is said and if they understand that, then we'll always have a really honest and good conversation about it. 'I hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do, and I really believe they're really trying. 'So they're good people, but the default to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shed that a little bit.' Martin confirmed that Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane will again miss out through fitness issues while it is not clear if Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old attacker who has signed on loan from Tottenham, will receive international clearance in time to be part of the squad.
South Wales Argus
41 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Russell Martin's post-Motherwell Rangers criticism came from ‘love and care'
The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about 'egos' and accusing some of 'self-preservation'. Martin was speaking again at the club's training ground ahead of the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night, where a play-off tie against Austrian outfit Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaits the winners. 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss, who replied 'hopefully he will be in it, we will wait and see', when asked if new signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, will be included in the squad. 'We are here, myself, Gilly (Matt Gill, assistant), the coaches, ultimately for the players. 🎙️ Russell Martin spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday's match against Viktoria Plzeň. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 'We're here to win football matches, but as coaches day to day, we are here to help the players. 'That's our job, to help them win, to help them develop, to help them improve and understand why, to help them enjoy playing for a club like this, because I don't think too many of them have enjoyed it enough to play for this amazing football club, because it's not always easy. 'I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. 'If they know me as a person, the people who do know me, they know it comes from a place of love and to help them and to want them to be better. ✍️ We are today delighted to announce the signing of Finnish international Oliver Antman on a four-year-deal. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 'So I think when it comes from that place, whatever is said and if they understand that, then we'll always have a really honest and good conversation about it. 'I hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do, and I really believe they're really trying. 'So they're good people, but the default to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shed that a little bit.' Martin confirmed that Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane will again miss out through fitness issues while it is not clear if Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old attacker who has signed on loan from Tottenham, will receive international clearance in time to be part of the squad.
