Marcel Hirscher still 'ten percent' from comeback, eyes return despite knee pain

Eight-time overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher is inching closer to a return to skiing, though he admits he is still about "ten percent" away from full readiness. The 37-year-old Austrian ski legend revealed that he experienced significant pain around the New Year, which has impacted his comeback efforts.

"The focus is definitely on the comeback and getting healthy," Hirscher stated, comparing his recovery to that of footballer David Alaba, which also took considerable time. He noted that while his situation isn't as severe, it has been a "painful affair." Hirscher has not performed a full swing since February 2nd, but he remains determined to regain the feeling of being able to "really go full throttle" again.

His comeback journey has seen "minimal progress," according to Hirscher, with ongoing work on strength and symmetry. He is training daily, dedicating 20 to 25 hours per week. However, participating in the preparation camp in New Zealand seems unlikely.

Beyond his personal athletic ambitions, Hirscher is also navigating the challenges of his ski company, Van Deer. Despite reporting a balance sheet loss of 18 million euros in the last accessible annual report (2024), Hirscher expressed optimism about the company's economic situation. He highlighted the positive reception of their products and the significant support from the joint venture with Red Bull, which he stated makes many things possible. He emphasized that marketing is not the primary driver for his return to skiing.

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Minimale Fortschritte sind da. Es gehe noch um Kraft und um Symmetrie.