It will be easier for Marcel Hirscher and other retired ski stars to return to the World Cup.
The updated World Cup regulations for the coming season provide for the possibility of wildcards for former athletes who have either won the overall World Cup, a discipline or gold at the Olympic Games or World Championships. Hirscher, the Austrian who will be competing for the Netherlands in the future, fulfills all criteria and all other conditions and could therefore apply for a wildcard.
In order to receive a wildcard, one must be officially inactive for at least two, but no more than ten years and, among other things, fulfill the FIS anti-doping rules. According to the new FIS rules, the athlete with a wildcard will compete for a maximum of one season as the 31st athlete in the respective discipline.