Marcel Hirscher is aiming for a comeback in the Olympic season after a serious knee injury. The ski legend, who competes for the Netherlands, previously feared his career was over.
Hirscher tore his anterior cruciate ligament last December when he slipped during training. The 36-year-old skier had just returned after a five-year absence and predicted that his career might be over due to the serious injury.
After a long rehabilitation, Hirscher has decided he wants to return to the highest stage. “More than a thousand hours of rehabilitation, therapy, and strength training in 197 days since my surgery – that was a lot of time to think,” Hirscher writes.
“Ultimately, I asked myself two things. What do I want from life? And what does life want from me? Even in the most difficult moments, my answer has always remained the same: to race again!”
Hirscher is allowed to carry over the wildcards he received for last season to the upcoming season. He hopes to be back on skis in September and then start in a World Cup competition as soon as possible.
This means Hirscher is facing a comeback in the Olympic year. It is not clear whether he is aiming to participate in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, which will be held in February.
Comeback for the Netherlands
Hirscher had returned from his ski retirement just before his serious injury, which he had started five years earlier. In the first part of his career, he competed for Austria. He made his comeback for the Netherlands, the country of his mother Sylvia.
With a 23rd place in Sölden, Austria, and a 47th place in Levi, Finland, Hirscher experienced a difficult comeback, although he didn’t take it too seriously. “In the past, my focus was on winning. It is not my intention to become number one again,” he said earlier.
Hirscher had an impressive career in slalom and giant slalom. He won two Olympic titles and seven world titles. He also won the overall World Cup standings eight times and triumphed in 67 World Cup races.