SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — Alpine ski great Marcel Hirscher is ending his effort to make a comeback for the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The 36-year-old Hirscher came out of a five-year retirement last season to compete for the Netherlands on the World Cup circuit, then was set back after just three races by tearing the ACL in his left knee.
The record eight-time World Cup overall champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist was aiming to return again and qualify for the Winter Games in Italy that open Feb. 6.
“The truth is it’s not possible at the moment,” Hirscher said Friday in a video message in German posted on social media. “The pace which I can go right now is not on a World Cup level.”
The former Austria superstar said a calf injury forced him to take a two-week break over the holidays and he now lacks pace and confidence to compete.
“Haters are going to love it,” he said. “I am also not happy with the situation. I’m sorry that it’s not going to happen this year.”
Hirscher signed off by telling fans he hoped they would see him race next season.
He competed at three Olympic Games from 2010-18 and won titles in giant slalom and Alpine combined, plus a silver in slalom.
An Olympic gold medal in slalom eluded the best slalom skier of his generation, whose 67 career wins in World Cup races is second on the all-time men’s list behind Ingemar Stenmark.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
FILE - Netherland's Marcel Hirscher arrives at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Soelden, Austria, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati, File)
FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.
Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.
Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.
Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.
Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.
Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.
Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.
Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.
In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.
Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
