Alpine ski great Marcel Hirscher ends comeback attempt for Winter Olympics

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 medallist 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.