"It's Not Possible at the Moment": Ski Racing Legend Calls Off Comeback Just Weeks Before Olympics

The ski racing legend Marcel Hirscher, who was mounting a comeback bid at 36 after his retirement of five years, is no longer shooting for this winter's Olympics.

Hirscher has competed in three Winter Games, amassing three medals across multiple disciplines, two of which were gold.

But now, he said in a video update, “The truth is it's not possible at the moment,” referring to his return to ski racing.

“The pace which I can go right now is not on a World Cup level,” he continued. That rules out an appearance at the upcoming Winter Olympics, which kick off in early February in Italy. 

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Hirscher first exited retirement last season and competed in three World Cup races. Then, he tore his ACL in training, spending the following months recovering and rehabbing his knee

There was another, more recent setback. Hirscher said in the video update that he had to take a two-week break over the holidays, citing a calf injury. The break, he added, “doesn’t really help to find the pace and confidence” he needs.

“If I want to compete in the World Cup again, then I want to do it properly,” Hirscher continued.

Still, the Olympic champion said that he’ll keep training.

“Hopefully see you next year,” Hirscher noted at the end of his video.

The abandoned effort contrasts with the rise of Lindsey Vonn, another older legend with dreams of grabbing more Olympic hardware. At 41, Vonn has led a stunningly successful campaign following her first season back competing last winter. She originally retired in 2019.

During Vonn’s opening races of this season, she claimed four podium finishes, including a win in downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Last month, Vonn announced that she had officially qualified for the Winter Olympics, and appears poised to be in contention for a medal come February. 

On the freeskiing stage, halfpipe athlete Gus Kenworthy, who retired after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has also returned to the World Cup.