In the Kaunertal

The next ski icon is training for a big comeback

Great champions: Marc Giradelli, Anja Pärson, Bernhard Russi, Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Maria Höfl-Riesch, Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Phil Mahre (from left).(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Lindsey Vonn is said to be on the verge of a comeback in the Ski World Cup, Marcel Hirscher announced his return to the race slopes in early summer and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is making a fresh start as a Brazilian at the season opener in Sölden after a one-year break. And now another ski icon is training for a comeback!

Five victories in the overall World Cup, ten triumphs in discipline rankings, four World Championship titles, a further seven World Championship medals plus two Olympic silver medals and 46 victories in World Cup races. The record of Marc Giradelli from Vorarlberg, who most recently competed for Luxembourg, is more than just impressive and meets all the criteria to apply for a wild card - introduced by the FIS before this season.

On Thursday, the Lustenau native attracted attention with a video on his Instagram story. "We're going to Kaunertal today. This is my old place of work, where I used to train in the 80s and 90s. A summer ski resort in Tyrol," says "Gira" as he sits behind the wheel of his car. "We've taken poles there and are going to do a bit of giant slalom."

"If my competitors like Braathen and Hirscher start again and make a comeback, then I can do it too," says the Vorarlberg native, who has achieved all his successes under the Luxembourg flag without batting an eyelid. "I'm in good spirits and let's see if we can make Odermatt a little nervous."

How serious the 61-year-old, who ended his career on December 21, 1996, really is about a comeback, however, is more than questionable. Especially as he hasn't even registered for the international doping control system ADAMS yet...