Alpine skiing
The fact that the wildcard in the Alpine Ski World Cup was introduced just before the comeback season of all-time great Marcel Hirscher has caused quite a stir in recent days. In an interview with the “Tiroler Tageszeitung” (Monday edition), FIS race director Markus Waldner denied that the rule had been made especially for Hirscher.
06.08.2024 16.34
Online since today, 4.34pm
“The wildcard is not just for Hirscher. Today it may be like that, but tomorrow it will be someone else,” said the South Tyrolean. Waldner stressed that the initiative had also come from the athletes’ spokespersons in the Alpine area.
“The athlete spokespersons Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen and Verena Stuffer came to me after the spring meeting and made the suggestion about the wildcard. This was discussed and decided a month later at the Council meeting in Iceland,” he explained, adding: “There is more provocation. But that was a lack of communication, and it was decided.”
GEPA/Pro Shots/Shane Thanks to the wildcard, nothing stands in the way of Hirscher’s return to the World Cup
Start in Sölden is fixed
As Waldner confirmed, there is nothing standing in the way of Hirscher starting at the World Cup opener in Sölden on October 27th, as he meets all the requirements to receive a wildcard. “The Dutch association has applied for a wildcard, Hirscher meets all the requirements for the new rule,” he was quoted as saying.
