Tomba, Hirscher, Maier and Stenmark champion montage GEPA pictures

Hermann Maier Criticizes Marcel Hirscher’s Return to Skiing

Just two weeks before the new season, Marcel Hirscher’s return to competitive skiing creates a media frenzy. While fans are excited, one Austrian ski legend isn’t as impressed. Hermann Maier, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of Austria’s most successful skiers, openly questions Hirscher’s comeback hype.

“It’s All Staged”

Maier, 51, doesn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts on Hirscher’s return. Maier tells Kurier, “Everything is being staged from start to finish as if he were just coming back from a serious injury.” Maier’s frustration stems from the overwhelming media attention focused on Hirscher while Austrian athletes remain in the shadows despite having a home World Championships next winter. According to Maier, the ski association is giving Hirscher the spotlight at the expense of current athletes.

Questioning the Comeback

Hirscher, now competing for the Netherlands, recently downplayed his chances, claiming he was “four seconds away from the top 15.” However, Maier remains unconvinced. “Nobody believes him,” says Maier. “Not even him.” He feels Hirscher’s statements about being far from competitive are simply inaccurate, believing that Hirscher will challenge for victories from the start.

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A Potential Challenger for Odermatt?

Maier also sees Hirscher as a potential threat to Marco Odermatt, the reigning World Cup overall champion. “If Odermatt skis as he has in recent years, then he will be unbeatable,” Maier acknowledges. However, he also adds, “But nothing can happen to him.” In other words, Maier believes Odermatt must stay at the top of his game if he hopes to fend off a returning Hirscher.

Breaking Records?

Maier doesn’t just think Hirscher can win races; he believes he might challenge the legendary record for most men’s World Cup victories, currently held by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark with 86 wins. Hirscher is 20 victories away from this mark, and Maier admits that catching Stenmark would require more than just one season. Hirscher has previously stated that his return is intended for only one season, but Maier isn’t ruling out the possibility of a more extended stint.

The Road Ahead for Hirscher

Hirscher has yet to confirm if he will compete in the season opener in Sölden, but the pressure and expectations are already sky-high. His return raises big questions: Can he challenge Odermatt? Will he make a run at Stenmark’s record? Only time will tell, but Hermann Maier remains skeptical of the spectacle surrounding Hirscher’s comeback.

As the Sölden Word Cups inch closer, all eyes are on Hirscher. However, Maier’s candid remarks, reported by Blick.ch, remind us that the road to glory isn’t guaranteed, even for a legend.