Two Olympic gold medals, slalom and giant slalom crystal ball, seventh overall World Cup victory! Marcel Hirscher looks back on the most successful season of his career. It started out very badly with an ankle fracture. And apparently, after the injuries even thoughts of a possible career end swarmed around in the head of the exceptional talent.
“This year’s summer was not entirely without – as the legs are pounding around, partly from the end of the career to the best season. Immediately after his victory in the slalom of Krans Montana’s slalom at the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF, the man from Salzburg explained in an interview that, in addition to the small disciplinary ball, also brought him the big ball for the seventh time in a row for the overall World Cup.
“It’s not for packing. It’s so weird,”the 29-year-old was missing, who is now 57. World Cup victories are worth the words. Looking to the future, Hirscher is still a bit cautious:”Honestly, I’m happy to be able to drive home now. I have to think for myself where the journey is going. I don’t understand for myself that this is how it works:” He couldn’t say whether he would be back at the start next year:”I don’t know.”
For Hirscher, however, it’s clear who will follow in his footsteps: permanent rival Henrik Kristoffersen, who won’t let go. Hats off – the future belongs to this man. It performs, performs, performs and simply makes no mistakes. It is very tedious with Mr Henrik”, the Austrian pays tribute to the 23-year-old.
But before the change of power takes place, the Norwegian must once again let the Annaberger take first place:”I am really motivated, that’s for sure. But he’s the best skier, so it’s okay that I’m second. At the moment he’s better, then it’s okay if he wins the balls,”Kristoffersen knows that there’s no weed against this stag at the moment.
Andreas Puelacher doesn’t know where all this could lead to, either. The Swedish ski legend Ingemar Stenmark also believes that Hirscher will improve his world cup victory record of 86 successes if he just keeps going long enough:”The brand is brutal, but if I really trust anyone, it’s this Marcel. It all depends on how long he still drives,”said Puelacher. 29 wins are still missing, however,”That means three times ten. And then he has to have three times the season of this year,”the boss calculated.
Puelacher believes that Hirscher is no longer concerned with goals:”He enjoys competition and skiing. If I enjoy competing with others, if I stay healthy, then it’s fun, then I don’t have to choose a big goal any more:” Hirscher isn’t someone who somersaults in the finish area, but someone who has a lot of fun when he’s skiing well.