A little bomb in the world of skiing. The former world number one in alpine skiing, the Austrian Marcel Hirscher, retired from the slopes since 2019, wishes to return to competition but this time with the Netherlands, the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) announced on Wednesday. reluctantly gave his approval. “In recent days, we have learned that Marcel Hirscher is considering a return to the international circuit,” declared the body’s secretary general, Christian Scherer, quoted in a press release.

“Of course, we greatly regret his decision to request a change of nation to join the Dutch Ski Federation but we ultimately supported it (…) out of esteem for him” and out of sporting spirit, he added. .

The ÖSV formally unanimously approved this Wednesday the request of the former champion, now 35 years old and whose mother is Dutch. This surprise announcement comes five years after Marcel Hirscher’s decision to hang up his spatulas, tired of the demands of high level and the physical pressure endured from a young age. He had since launched a ski brand.

The Austrian is the best skier in history thanks to his eight victories in the general classification of the World Cup between 2012 and 2019, which no one has achieved before him (the Luxembourger Marc Girardelli stopped at five , the Austrian Annemarie Moser-Pröll at six).

He also won two Olympic champion titles (slalom and alpine combined) in 2018 in Pyeongchang (South Korea), five world champion titles (three in slalom, one in alpine combined and one in giant slalom) and six small globes. (Specialty World Cup) slalom and as much in giant slalom.

With 67 World Cup victories, he was only missing the holy grail of the white circus: the mark of the Swede Ingemar Stenmark, absolute reference among men with 86 races won.

Impressive in his perfectionism and consistency, Hirscher had continued to raise his level over the years, arousing respect and admiration among his opponents. The ex-skier enjoys rock star status in Austria, a country where alpine skiing is king, which gets excited at every rumor of a prodigy’s return to competition.