Marcel Hirscher: Olympic Skiing Champion, Bio & Net Worth

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Marcel Hirscher is the skier of the century who rewrote the history of Alpine Skiing. He is from Hallein, Salzburg, Austria, competing in slalom and giant slalom, super-G, and combined.

Hirscher has a record of winning the World Cup eight times in a row. He is the two-time Olympic winner, seven-time world champion, and four-time runner-up.

Marcel loves to define himself as a ‘racer’ and ‘fast driver’ and does the same; ski fast and win. Sometimes it seems almost like a superhuman with that nerves of steel in the ice.

Austrian Ski Racer Marcel Hirscher
Austrian Ski Racer Marcel Hirscher

Unfortunately, the multiple times “Sportsman of the Year” winner Marcel Hirscher retired from his swimming career in September 2019.

Marcel always wanted to end his career while winning races. And he didn’t want to oversee the moment when things got worse for him. Thus, he retired at the age of only thirty.

Marchel has always remained true to himself and his sport. The hunger for records was secondary for him until the end; the subsequent victory spurred and motivated Hirscher.

Let’s move forward in the article to know every aspect of the life of the legendary skier.

Marchel Hirscher: Quick Facts

But before that, here are some quick facts about Marcel Hirscher.

Full Name Marcel Hirscher
Nickname Marcel
Birth Date March 2, 1989
Birth Place Annaberg-Lungotz, Hallein, Salzburg
Religion Unknown
Nationality Austrian
Ethnicity White
High School Higher School of Tourism and Ski, Bad Hofgastein
University Unknown
Father’s Name Ferdinand Hirscher
Mother’s Name Sylvia Hirscher
Siblings Unknown
Residence Austria
Horoscope Pisces
Age 35 Years Old
Height 173 cm
Weight 75 kg
Build Athletic
Eye Color Blue
Hair Color Dark Brown
Profession Alpine Ski Racer
Disciplines Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G, Combined
World Cup Debut March 17, 2007 (at the age of 18)
Club Skiklub Annaberg
Retirement September 4, 2019 (at the age of 30)
Medals 11 (7 Gold)
Seasons 12 (from 2008 to 2019)
Wins and Podiums 67 and 138 respectively
Marital Status Married in 2018 and separated in 2021
Ex-Partner Laura Moisl
Children One Son (born in 2018)
Net Worth $46 Million
Salary Unknown
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Merch Marcel Hirscher (The Biography), Poster
Last Update March, 2024

Marcel Hirscher: Early Life & Education

Hirscher was born in the Alpine village of Annaberg-Lungotz, Austria, on March 2, 1989. Marcel’s father, Ferdinand Hirscher, and his mother Sylvia Hirscher used to work at a local ski school near Annaberg.

Ferdinand played a significant role in his career as he first introduced Marcel to skiing and gave him little skis when he was a small boy.

Marcel’s father is still part of his support team. He calls his father the supervisor/mentor and still asks for advice on taking in a race, setting up, and so on. 

Growing up in Annaberg, Marchel spent a lot of time in nature and the mountains. The foundation of his fantastic career started in his hometown. The landscape shaped him and made him one of the best skiers in the world.

Marcel always wanted to become a ski racer. Thus, after primary and secondary school, Hirscher went to the Higher School of Tourism and Ski in Bad Hofgastein.

By then, this association mentioned the teenager Marceled as an exceptional talent.

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Marcel Hirscher: Age, Height & Weight

Hirscher is 35 years old. He celebrates his birthday every year on March 2, making Pisces his zodiac sign.

He stands 5 feet 9 inches tall (1.73 m) and weighs 75 kg (165 pounds). Hirscher has got blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Marcel Hirscher: Professional Career

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Hirscher was placed fourth in the giant slalom and fifth in the slalom at Whistler Creekside.

After an ankle injury in 2011, Marcel returned in 2012 with nine victories and a total of 14 podiums. Hirscher won the World Cup overall and giant slalom titles and placed third in the slalom.

In 2013 Marcel won the gold in slalom at the World Championships in Schladming. He was the first Austrian to win an individual event at their home event. Thus, for Hircher, this win is one of the most emotional wins in his career.

Similarly, in 2014  Hirscher took the overall FIS Alpine Ski World Cup and continued to win the same title in 2015. He topped his season off with first-place rankings in slalom and giant slalom disciplines too.

Hirscher’s Sky Rocketing Career

Similarly, throughout 2016 and 2017, Marcel continued his skiing dominance with more titles across the slalom and giant slalom disciplines. In addition, he amassed enough points to secure two more overall titles. 

Marcel Hirscher in action in 2016 slalom globe held at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
Marcel Hirscher in action in 2016 slalom globe held at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

Hirscher won his second Olympic gold in giant slalom and Alpine combined in Pyeongchang in 2018. He left a field of rivals trailing in his wake with another technical masterclass in the giant slalom.

He posted a time of 2 minutes 18.04 seconds for his two runs, a full 1.27 seconds ahead of Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen.

The records didn’t stop there for Marcel; in December 2018, he became the most successful Austrian ever on the World Cup circuit and eclipsed Ingemar Stenmark’s calendar year win record.

Also, the 2018-2019 season saw more of the same, with Marcel wrapping up the slalom and giant slalom disciplines. And early on before taking an eighth overall title to equal Lindsey Vonn’s record of 20 total FIS crystal globes.

Accident and Injuries

Marcel Hirscher made headlines worldwide in December 2015, narrowly escaping a freak accident during a night slalom in Italy. A drone carrying a TV camera came down and shattered on the slope just a few meters behind him.

The incident leads FIS to ban camera drones from its races.

In 2011, Marcel suffered a scaphoid fracture which ruled him out of the World Champion. In 2017, he fractured an ankle bone but won a record 13 World Cup races and two Olympic medals that season.

Luckily, unlike many other competitors, Marcel managed to steer clear of significant injuries during his career.

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Marcel Hirscher: Retirement

Marcel’s biggest wish was to leave Alpine skiing as a winner, and he did the same. In September 2019, at the age of 30, Hirscher announced to walk away from ski racing at the peak of his power.

Initially, many people didn’t take him seriously when he talked about considering retirement since he had a lot of potential projects he could start working on.

Skiing superstar announced his retirement in September 2019.
The skiing superstar announced his retirement in September 2019.

Hirscher’s departure leaves a massive gap in the Austrian men’s ski team. According to Austrian ski federation president Peter Schroeksnadel, it is never possible to replace a champion like Marcel.

In one of the interviews after retirement, Marcel Hirscher said,

“There is no void after your career. There’s a variety and richness which gives me the fulfillment I was yearning for.”

After walking away from ski racing, Hirscher wanted to focus on new challenges. He planned to switch his skis for a Hard Enduro motorbike two years later to participate in the demanding Red Bull Romanians. But because of injury, he couldn’t participate in the race.

Awards and Achievements

Marchel received the Grand Decoration of Merit of the State of Salzburg (2012) and the Grand Decoration of Honour of the State of Salzburg (2018).

Hirscher was also awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2016 and was named World Sportsman of the Year (2018). Furthermore, he had been voted five times for the “Sportsman of the Year.”

Marcel has won the 8 World Cup title, even though he rarely competed in super-G. But he excelled in slalom and GS and won 12 season titles in the technical disciplines.

Hirscher has 14 medals at major championships, including nine golds. In the end, there were six slalom world cups, six giant slalom world cups, two Olympic victories, an Olympic silver, seven world titles, and 67 world cup victories. 

The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Hirscher won gold in his first competition in the men’s combined event. However, the win was not expected as he had done little downhill training due to the pre-season ankle injury.

Five days later, he won gold in the GS by 1.27 seconds, the most considerable winning margin in Olympic GS since the 1969 Olympics.

Hirscher took 14 World Cup wins breaking the previous record for most World Cup race wins in a single calendar year set by Ingemar Stenmark.

Marcel Hirscher: Wife and Children

Marcel married his longtime girlfriend Laura Moisl in Ibiza in 2018. The ex-couple was blessed with a son in May 2018.

Hirscher had mentioned several times that the priorities of things in his life have changed, and he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his son after the birth of his first child.

Marcel Hiescher with Laura Moisl  (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Marcel Hirscher with Laura Moisl (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Unfortunately, after three years of marriage, Marcel Hirscher and Laura Moisl ended their relationship in 2021.

In an interview with ‘Kronzen Zeitung,’ Hirscher said, “We part on good terms. The rest is a private matter. And Laura and I ask you to respect this privacy.”

Marcel Hirscher: Net Worth

After their retirement in 2019, people assumed Hirscher’s spectacular career had ended. But suddenly, he is back on top, being the highest-paid athlete in the world, as People With Money reports on November 21 of 2021.

Hirscher is the proud owner of a $46 million net worth. And this makes him one of the wealthiest skiers who was born in Austria.

Competing in the World Cup since 2007, Marcel started winning races in 2009, and since then, he has been non-stop in winning games and fortune. As of now, Marcel has a total of 12 gold medals and 7 silver medals.

Similarly, Marcel has accumulated around $450,000 from his gold medal win and nearly $157,500 from his silver medals.

Besides the prize money, he appears in many TV commercials. Also, sponsorship deals of Atomic, Raiffeisen, Audi, Red Bull, and many more are under his bag.

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Marcel Hirscher: Social Media Presence

Marcel Hirscher is on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

On Instagram, he has around 648k followers (as of 2021).

On Twitter, 170k people are following him (as of 2021).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the famous Marcel Hirscher quote?

One of the famous Hirscher quotes is, “It’s incredible how many emotions you feel when crossing the finish line and seeing that you are No. 1.”

Another famous quote is, “Nothing is worth putting my health on the line. Not a camera, not a title, Nothing.”

How is Marcel Hirscher’s life after retirement?

The retirement life is like pressing a restore-factory-setting button for Marcel. 

In one of the interviews, Marcel stated that he had discovered several options to shape his daily life the way he wanted after retirement. In addition, the new freedom is giving him a tremendous amount of energy.

Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah is an engineer and content writer passionate about sports and athletics. With a background in engineering and a love for all things active, Sanjib brings a unique perspective to the world of sports writing. Whether he is covering the latest trends in sports technology or sharing tips on improving your game, Sanjib's words are always rooted in a deep appreciation for players' hard work and dedication everywhere. In his free time, you can find him hitting the courts or hitting the trails, always looking for new ways to challenge himself and improve his skills.

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