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Hirscher Netherlands Skiing
FILE - Austria's Marcel Hirscher skis to the gold medal in the second run of the men's giant slalom at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018. Marcel Hirscher, one of the most successful ski racers of all time, is planning to return next season after five years in retirement. And the record eight-time overall World Cup champion is going to compete for the Netherlands — his mother's country — instead of his native Austria. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Marcel Hirscher retired from skiing at the top. He's back to race for a country with no mountains

Eight-time overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher is planning to return to ski racing next season after five years in retirement

By ANDREW DAMPF
Published - Apr 24, 2024, 01:33 PM ET
Last Updated - May 27, 2024, 01:08 AM EDT

Marcel Hirscher, one of the most successful ski racers of all time, is planning to return next season after five years in retirement. And the record eight-time overall World Cup champion is going to compete for the Netherlands — his mother’s country — instead of his native Austria.

The Austrian winter sports federation, known as the OSV, announced Wednesday that it had released the 35-year-old Hirscher and endorsed his nation change.

“For people asking, why are you doing this, for me it’s clear — because the joy of skiing never left, it’s just so much fun for me,” Hirscher said on Instagram.

While there have been Dutch skiers who have competed on the elite level, never has the Netherlands — a country with no mountains — had a top racer anywhere near Hirscher’s caliber.

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