Marcel Hirscher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marcel Hirscher

Alpine skier
Hirscher in March 2018
Disciplines	Slalom, giant slalom, super-G, combined
Club	Skiklub Annaberg
Born	(1989-03-02) 2 March 1989 (age 36) Hallein, Salzburg, Austria
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
World Cup debut	17 March 2007 (age 18)
Retired	4 September 2019 (age 30)
Website	marcelhirscher.at
Olympics
Teams	3 – (2010, 2014, 2018)
Medals	3 (2 gold)
World Championships
Teams	5 – (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Medals	11 (7 gold)
World Cup
Seasons	12 – (2008–2019)
Wins	67
Podiums	138
Overall titles	8 – (2012–2019)
Discipline titles	12 – (6 SL, 6 GS)
Medal record International alpine ski competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 1 0 World Championships 7 4 0 World Cup race podiums Event 1st 2nd 3rd Slalom 32 24 9 Giant 31 18 10 Super G 1 0 2 Combined 0 4 2 Parallel 3 1 1 Olympic Games Gold 2018 Pyeongchang Combined Gold 2018 Pyeongchang Giant slalom Silver 2014 Sochi Slalom World Championships Gold 2013 Schladming Slalom Gold 2013 Schladming Team event Gold 2015 Beaver Creek Combined Gold 2015 Beaver Creek Team event Gold 2017 St. Moritz Giant slalom Gold 2017 St. Moritz Slalom Gold 2019 Åre Slalom Silver 2013 Schladming Giant slalom Silver 2015 Beaver Creek Giant slalom Silver 2017 St. Moritz Combined Silver 2019 Åre Giant slalom Junior World Ski Championships Gold 2007 Flachau Giant slalom Gold 2008 Formigal Giant slalom Gold 2008 Formigal Slalom Silver 2007 Flachau Slalom Silver 2009 Garmisch Super G Bronze 2009 Garmisch Giant slalom

Marcel Hirscher (born 2 March 1989) is an amazing alpine ski racer. He is known for winning a record eight World Cup titles in a row! Marcel started his World Cup career in March 2007. He mostly competed in slalom and giant slalom races. He also raced in combined events and sometimes in super-G.

Many people, including other top skiers, think Marcel Hirscher is the best alpine skier ever. He won 11 medals at the World Championships, with seven of them being gold. He also earned a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics and two gold medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Marcel won a total of 67 World Cup races, which is the second-highest number for male skiers.

Marcel Hirscher retired from alpine skiing in September 2019. However, in April 2024, he announced he would return to the World Cup circuit. He now races for the Netherlands, his mother's home country. He made his comeback in October 2024, earning points in his first race back.

Marcel's Skiing Journey

Early Career and First Wins

Marcel Hirscher started his World Cup journey in 2007. At the 2010 Winter Olympics, he finished fourth in giant slalom and fifth in slalom. He also placed fourth in giant slalom at the 2009 World Championships. Unfortunately, he broke his ankle before the 2011 World Championships, which ended his 2011 season early.

Dominating the World Cup

After his injury, Marcel had an incredible 2012 season. He won 9 races and stood on the podium 14 times. He won the overall World Cup title and the giant slalom title that year. He also finished third in slalom. In October 2012, he received the Skieur d'Or Award for his great performances.

Marcel continued his winning streak in 2013, winning the overall World Cup title again. He also won the slalom title and was second in giant slalom. He became the first male skier to win the overall World Cup title three years in a row since Phil Mahre in the 1980s.

Marcel Hirscher in Hinterstoder in 2008.

In 2015, Marcel was outstanding in giant slalom, winning 5 races. He won the giant slalom title for the second time. He also won his third straight slalom title. Marcel became the first male alpine skier to win the overall World Cup title four times in a row.

Setting New Records

The 2016 season saw Marcel break more records. He became Austria's most successful male World Cup giant slalom skier. He won his 5th straight overall World Cup title, a feat no other male skier had achieved. He won 8 races and had 19 podium finishes that season.

Marcel Hirscher at the 2017 World Championships.

In the 2017 season, Marcel continued to impress. He won his 40th World Cup race, tying with another skiing legend, Pirmin Zurbriggen. He also reached his 100th podium finish. At the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2017 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, he won gold in both giant slalom and slalom. He also took a silver medal in the combined event. He was the most successful athlete at those championships.

In March 2017, Marcel secured his 4th giant slalom World Cup title and his 6th overall World Cup title. He also won his 4th World Cup slalom title.

Olympic Glory and More Records

The start of the 2018 season was tough for Marcel. He fractured his left ankle in August. Despite this, he still managed to compete and win. He won his 50th World Cup race in January 2018, matching Alberto Tomba's record. A few days later, he won his 54th World Cup race, equaling Austrian legend Hermann Maier's record.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Marcel won his first Olympic gold medal in the combined event. Five days later, he won another gold in the giant slalom. This was a huge win, with the biggest winning margin in Olympic giant slalom since 1968!

After the Olympics, Marcel continued his success. He won his 5th giant slalom crystal globe and his 5th slalom crystal globe. He also secured his 7th consecutive overall crystal globe. This amazing achievement placed him at the top of the list of greatest alpine skiers of all time. He won 13 races in the 2018 season, tying the record for most wins in a single season with Ingemar Stenmark and Hermann Maier.

In December 2018, Marcel became Austria's most successful World Cup race winner. He won his 63rd World Cup race, passing Annemarie Moser-Pröll. He was named L'Équipe Champion of Champions and Eurosport's Sportsman of the Year for 2018.

Final Season and Retirement

In January 2019, Marcel won his 9th World Cup race at Adelboden, setting a new record for male athletes at one resort. At the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2019 in Åre, he won a silver medal in giant slalom. He then won gold in slalom, his seventh World Championship gold. This tied him with fellow Austrian Toni Sailer for the most World Championship golds ever.

On 4 September 2019, Marcel Hirscher announced his retirement from alpine skiing.

Life After Retirement and Comeback

After retiring, Marcel worked as a TV presenter in Austria. He also started his own brand of skis called Van Deer, which later partnered with Red Bull. The skis quickly became successful, with former rival Henrik Kristoffersen winning races using them.

On 24 April 2024, Marcel Hirscher surprised the skiing world by announcing his plan to return to the World Cup circuit. He decided to compete for the Netherlands, his mother's home country. He made his return on 27 October 2024, earning points in his first race back. This was a big moment for Dutch skiing, as it was the first time a Dutch competitor earned World Cup points since January 2022.

Marcel's Achievements

Marcel Hirscher has won many titles and medals throughout his career.

World Cup Season Titles

Marcel won a total of 20 World Cup titles:

• 8 Overall World Cup titles
• 6 Giant Slalom titles
• 6 Slalom titles

	Season
		Discipline
	2012	Overall
		Giant slalom
	2013	Overall
		Slalom
	2014	Overall
		Slalom
	2015	Overall
		Giant slalom
		Slalom
	2016	Overall
		Giant slalom
	2017	Overall
		Giant slalom
		Slalom
	2018	Overall
		Giant slalom
		Slalom
	2019	Overall
		Giant slalom
		Slalom

World Cup Season Standings

This table shows Marcel's rankings in different skiing events each season.

Season
	Age	Overall	Slalom	Giant slalom	Super G	Downhill	Combined	Total points
2008	18	51	15	60	–	–	–	167
2009	19	14	9	14	52	–	10	520
2010	20	6	8	6	34	–	12	691
2011	21	15	5	10	–	–	–	469
2012	22				27	–	–	1355
2013	23				–	–	–	1535
2014	24				31	–	8	1222
2015	25				24	–	6	1448
2016	26				6	–	–	1795
2017	27				25	–	5	1599
2018	28				33	–	–	1620
2019	29				–	–	5	1546
2020-2024	did not run
2025	35	142	–	50	–	–	–	8

World Cup Race Victories and Podiums

Marcel Hirscher has won 67 World Cup races and achieved 138 podium finishes.

World Championships Results

Marcel has won 7 gold and 4 silver medals at the World Championships.

Olympic Results

Marcel Hirscher has won 2 gold and 1 silver medal at the Winter Olympics.

Personal Life

Marcel Hirscher has dual citizenship for both the Netherlands and Austria. His mother, Sylvia, is Dutch, and his father, Ferdinand, is Austrian. They met during a ski holiday in Austria.

Marcel married his long-time girlfriend, Laura Moisl, in June 2018. They had their first child, a son, in October 2018. The couple later separated in August 2021.

Images for kids

• 

  Hirscher during the giant slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

• 

  Marcel Hirscher with his team

• 

  Hirscher at the gala for the Austrian Sportspersonalities of the Year 2015

• 

  During the combined slalom at the 2017 World Championships

• 

  Hirscher in February 2017

• 

  Hirscher in February 2011

• 

  Hirscher in March 2008

See also

In Spanish: Marcel Hirscher para niños