Alpine skiing legend Marcel Hirscher has announced a sensational return to the slopes. The eight-time World Cup winner will return next season but will compete for the Netherlands, the Austrian Football Association revealed today.
The 35-year-old Austrian ended his career in 2019 after becoming World Cup champion for the eighth time in a row. "In the last few days, we learned that Marcel Hirscher plans to be part of the white caravan again. Of course, we are very sorry that he wants to change his nationality to ski for the Netherlands, but out of respect for him, we finally gave his consent", announced the president of the Austrian Ski Federation, Christian Scherer.
Hirscher's father is Austrian, but his mother is Dutch, and this is the reason for his decision. "This new project will be best realized under the Dutch flag. I have an excellent relationship with the Austrian Federation and I am grateful to them for everything we have achieved together. I want to compete again because it brings me pleasure", he said.
Hirscher is a seven-time world champion and has two Olympic titles from the 2018 PyeongChang Games. He has 67 World Cup victories. /BGNES
