Will ski? Won’t ski? The presence or absence of Marcel Hirscher at the start of the Ski World Cup on Sunday in Sölden (Austria) is agitating the small world of skiing but the superstar of the slopes maintains doubts about his comeback.
The Austrian, considered by many to be the best skier in history with his eight large crystal globes (a record) and his 67 World Cup victories, announced in April his return to competition five years after his retirement, this time “for pleasure” and under the colors of the Netherlands, his mother’s country.
The announcement was surprising at the time and continues to raise questions a few days before the launch of the season in Austria, where the skier enjoys rock star status. Because Hirscher, now 35, has not hung a bib since 2019 and has not shown since then that he has regained his level on skis.
He certainly trained in New Zealand this summer but returned to Europe earlier than expected, without lining up for the continental competition that he had initially checked off. At the same time, some specialist media reported that he seemed very far from the world’s top level during training.
“Four seconds to catch up”
On Austrian television at the beginning of October, Marcel Hirscher repeated that his ” wish “ was to participate in the Sölden giant on Sunday. “But I can’t answer that question today. Until I feel pretty much ready for (my return), I won’t do it.”he qualified.
And to admit: “Currently, (aiming for) a place in the top 15 would not be realistic. There are still four seconds to catch up” to compete. A chasm in skiing.
Equipment problem, he who joined the Netherlands officially so as not to overshadow the Austrian next generation but whose change of nationality also allows him to race with his own brand of skis (Van Deer, supported by Red Bull) ?
Simple lack of form for the specialist in technical events (giant, slalom) who had hung up his spatulas while still young, tired of the demands of high level and physical pressure?
For the moment, Hirscher is saying nothing about his intentions for Sunday’s race – he is not expected to communicate until Friday – and is training on the glaciers around Sölden.
“These days, skiing is more and more enjoyable, especially meeting up with old friends on the mountain”the skier wrote last week on Instagram, sharing a photo of him all smiles on the slope.
SKI-WORLD CUP-MEN-HIRSCHER / FRANCK FIFE / AFP
« Wild card » criticized
As a multiple Olympic (2 times) and world (5) champion and multiple World Cup winner (8), Hirscher benefits from a « wild card » (special invitation) which ensures him a correct bib without worrying about his world ranking which normally governs the starting order of the runners and therefore the conditions of the track at the time of their passage.
This invitation – a novelty introduced this season by the International Ski Federation (FIS) – allows him to make his return directly to the World Cup without having to score points in continental competitions beforehand.
Enough to make one’s teeth cringe. Because if everyone agrees that Hirscher’s return is excellent news for the attractiveness of the sport, some believe that the privilege granted to him is unfair when other athletes have to fight all year round. to maintain a correct bib.
“The FIS always emphasizes that fair play must be at the center of each rule,” Swiss skier Justin Murisier reacted to the Swiss media Blick, for example. But for Marcel Hirscher, we are adding a rule which is definitely not fair. »
