Marcel Hirscher: The greatest ski racer of all time?

How do you judge greatness in sport? Can you even compare athletes from different eras? Two classic bar room topics with no finite answers.

Last ski season, all the talk was about Lindsey Vonn’s quest to pass Ingemar Stenmark as the most successful racer of all time.

Given Vonn’s early retirement through injury, Stenmark’s 86 World Cup race wins remains the benchmark, but perhaps there is another measure of greatness. How about being the best in the business for eight years running?

If so, Austria’s Marcel Hirscher is already history’s best ski racer. He may have retired this week with 67 wins to his name, but the 30-year-old megastar clinched an unprecedented eighth straight World Cup overall crown last season.

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By comparison, double Olympic champion Stenmark – a Swedish icon alongside tennis great Bjorn Borg in the late 1970s and early 1980s – only won the overall title three times. Hirscher’s nearest rival on the men’s circuit was Marc Girardelli, who won five overall titles in nine seasons.

Hirscher also won the slalom and giant slalom World Cup crowns six times each, clinched seven world titles in various disciplines and finally secured double Olympic gold in Pyeongchang in 2018 after taking silver in Sochi four years earlier.

So while Hirscher’s name may not transcend skiing in the way that Vonn, or more recently Mikaela Shiffrin, has – for any number of cultural and sociological reasons – he deserves to be recognized as one of sport’s – any sports – greatest exponents.

“I would place him in same range as Stenmark. At least,” Peter Schrocksnadel, veteran head of the Austrian Ski Federation, told CNN Sport in Kitzbuhel at the annual Hahnekamm races in January.

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Marcel Hirscher won two golds at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Supreme focus

Hirscher, like Stenmark, was a technical expert, excelling in the rhythmic dance of slalom and giant slalom rather than the brute power and bravado of the speed events.

His poise under pressure, and ability to find speed even on the most intricate of courses is legendary. His nearest rival in recent seasons, Henrik Kristoffersen, can attest to the almost supernatural power of Hirscher’s second-run charges, calling him, “The king, the greatest.”

American Ted Ligety, a double Olympic gold medalist champion and five-time World Cup giant slalom champion, said Hirscher “changed ski racing forever.”

“He shifted the paradigm in what we thought was possible on skis,” Ligety told Powder magazine. “He forced everyone to raise their level of skiing and at times it felt like a futile effort.

“He seemed to always get better and never seemed to have off days. He did that all while being humble, kind and graceful. A true champion. I will miss competing against him but I have to be honest, part of me won’t, he was too good.”

Back home in skiing-mad Austria, Hirscher has been a bona fide superstar for years. As a product of his millennial generation, he has a huge social media fan base, following his life in skiing, fitness, car racing, motorbikes and beyond. He even has his own magazine called “Heroes.”

Such is his popularity and fame – eclipsing Bayern Munich star David Alaba or tennis player Dominic Thiem – that even going out in public is problematic, according to journalist Florian Madl of Innsbruck-based daily paper Tiroler Tageszeitung.

“He won’t walk down the street,” Madl told CNN in Kitzbuhel. “It would take 20 minutes to do what should take him 20 seconds.”

Hirscher is a five-time Austrian Sports Personality of the Year and was recently named “Champion of Champions” for 2018 by French newspaper L’Equipe, joining sporting greats such as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi to have been honored.

In January, Eurosport named him Sportsman of the Year, ahead of fellow nominees such as Novak Djokovic, Simone Biles and Lewis Hamilton.

“What makes Marcel so great? It’s himself,” added Schrocksnadel.

“He’s the most focused skier I know, since ever, and I’ve been in the business a long time. He doesn’t care how many first places he has, he wants to win the next one, that’s his focus.”

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‘Hates to lose’

According to Hirscher, his body shape is the “perfect symmetry” for ski racing – not too small or tall and a good weight, and with “good genes” – but he believes his secret is his attention to detail.

And he always credits the team around him for his success. “I am not the better skier,” he says. “With my team, I am able to have my equipment on point.” But if it was just having the right gear, others could be as good.

Madl added: “He can’t lose. And he cannot hide that he can’t lose. While someone else is sleeping or relaxing he still picks on things like technique, or bindings or ski material or edge grip or whatever. There’s nearly no spare time, he uses all the time for his focus.”

Winter wonderland —

Snow covers the mountains and the 2018-2019 ski racing season is under way. Here's some of the best photos from the circuit.

Taste of victory —

Marcel Hirscher shares his slalom victory in Levi, Finland, with a friend.

All in the landing —

Klaus Brandner looks to regain his balance as he races in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Feeling the snow —

Mikaela Shiffrin gets low to the ground in St Moritz, where she won the parallel slalom and super-G events.

Shining light —

The giant slalom slope of Val d'Isère shines amid dark skies; the slalom was canceled because of bad weather.

Leap of faith —

France's Alexis Pinturault searches for speed en route to a third-placed finish in Alta Badia, Italy.

Poles apart —

Petra Vlhova in action at the women's slalom in Semmering, Austria.

Snowballing out of control —

Norway's Mina Fuerst Holtmann crashes out in Zagreb's women's slalom.

Leaving a trace —

US skier Thomas Biesemeyer leaves a spray of snow behind him as he cuts inside.

Crashing out —

Canada's Erin Mielzynski ends up on her back during the women's slalom in Zagreb.

The queen's coronation —

Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates with champagne and a crown after winning the women's slalom in Zagreb.

A winter's image —

Marcel Hirscher flies round a bend during a winning run at the picturesque Adelboden.

Flying the flag —

Austria's Marcel Hirscher is presented as the winner of the giant slalom race in Adelboden.

Snow distraction —

Mikaela Shiffrin closes her eyes as her runners-up celebrate by throwing snowballs at her in Kronplatz.

Posing for the camera —

Italy's Federica Brignone competes in the women's giant slalom at Kronplatz.

Balancing act —

Travis Ganong in super-G action on a hazy day.

Jumping for joy —

Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr flies through the Wengen air during his winning run in the men's downhill event.

The sky's the limit —

Matthias Mayer steadies himself before beginning his downhill, with the clouds above him mirroring the Wengen mountains.

A mountain to climb —

A female skier competes against the domineering backdrop of Cortina's rocky mountains.

Picture perfect —

Mikaela Shiffrin wins in Cortina as she dominates the super-G in the Italian mountains.

White as snow —

Jonathan Nordbotten slaloms towards the Kitzbuhel faithful on a snow-filled day in Austria.

Arnie —

"He's back...!" Muscleman, movie star and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger takes in the action during his regular visit to the Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbuhel.

Italian style —

Dominik Paris in action on his way to winning the men's downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Airborne —

Manuel Schmid takes an insect-like leap during his super-G run at Kitzbuehel.

Pick that one out —

Italy's Sofia Goggia celebrates finishing second in the women's downhill in Garmisch.

Lying low —

Swiss skier Luana Fluetsch appears almost flat on the snow as she competes in the super-G in Garmisch.

One of the World Cup circuit's most celebrated events is the night slalom in Schladming, Austria. Thousands of ski racing fans line the slope to watch the world's best compete under floodlights. Local hero Marcel Hirscher triumphed again this year.

Swerving all obstacles —

Marcel Hirscher focuses as he slides past the poles during the slalom.

Light in the darkness —

Alexis Pinturault takes second place at night during the men's slalom in Schladming.

Disturbing the surface —

Switzerland's Daniel Yule competes in Schladming

Black and white —

The silhouette of Gabriela Capova stands out as she competes in the slalom event in Maribor.

Snowed under —

Fans in Garmisch seek shelter as the men's competition is canceled due to weather conditions.

A World Championship view —

Are, the home of the 2019 World Ski Championships.

A moment of panic —

Lindsey Vonn is surrounded after a gruesome fall at the World Championships in Are.

Back on her feet —

Lindsey Vonn is helped after crashing out of the penultimate race of her career in the super-G event at the World Championships in Are.

A fairytale ending —

Despite crashing earlier in the week, Lindsey Vonn goes out in style at the World Championships in Are.

A legend's farewell —

Vonn celebrates winning World Championship bronze in the downhill in her final race before retirement.

This way and that —

Slovenia's Stefan Hadalin competes in the first run of the men's giant slalom at the World Championships in Are.

Pole position —

Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway steps out of long-time rival Marcel Hrischer's shadow to win gold in the giant slalom in Are.

Picture perfect —

Sweden's Anna Swenn-Larsson reacts after winning silver in the slalom at the World Ski Championships in Are.

Overcome with emotion —

Mikaela Shiffrin collapses to the ground in delight as she wins her fourth consecutive gold in the slalom at the World Ski Championships.

When perils of the slalom —

Mikaela Shiffrin finds herself in a tangle during the city event in Stockholm.

Grey —

The men's super-G is canceled due to a of heavy overnight snowfall.

Photographic perfection —

A racer's silhouette arches across a peerless landscape.

Child's play —

Switzerland's Wendy Holdener poses with a furry mascot during the combined event at Crans-Montana.

Taking the plaudits —

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates her victory in the Alpine combined race at Crans-Montana.

When poles collide —

French racer Alexis Pinturault in action during the giant slalom in Bansko, Bulgaria.

Beaten by the elements —

The women's super-G falls victim to Sochi's curious weather patterns.

No-go zone —

The Rosa Khutor resort in Sochi looks a ghostly, isolated picture after competition is called off due to conditions.

Up in the canopies —

Switzerland's Priska Nufer leaps as she competes in the downhill at Crans-Montana.

Snow blue —

Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec leaves a path of turquoise in her trail at Crans-Montana.

Best photos from the 2019 ski season

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Austria has spawned many men’s ski greats over the years, including the late Toni Sailer, a seven-time world champion and triple Olympic gold medalist in 1956. Then there’s speed merchant Hermann Maier, a four-time World Cup overall winner and double Olympic champion.

But another Austrian legend Franz Klammer says comparisons are worthless, given different events, conditions, equipment, physical fitness, nutrition, competition and other factors.

“It’s different, you cannot compare Toni Sailer with Marcel Hirscher,” Klammer, the five-time World Cup downhill champion and 1976 OIympic downhill gold medallist, told CNN in Kitzbuhel.

“They are different times, different situations – downhill skiers are different to slalom skiers. But Hirscher is definitely one of the best ever.”

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Hirscher won six World Cup slalom crowns and six giant slalom titles.

‘Extremely lucky’

If Hirscher was impressive with nine wins in what would be his final season, his achievements the previous year were arguably more remarkable. He broke his ankle on his first training day on snow in August 2017, fearing his dreams of Olympic glory – even his career – could be over.

But racing with no pressure, he blew away Kristoffersen, and stormed to 13 wins on the World Cup circuit as well as clinching his first Olympic gold medals with the giant slalom and combined in Pyeongchang.

In his regular blog at the end of last season, Hirscher quashed rumours he would switch to the speed disciplines to refresh his motivation.

But when he married his partner Laura last summer and the couple welcomed their first child – a boy – in the autumn, many observers thought ski racing would be pushed into the background.

He hung around for one more glittering year, but retired at the very top of his game this September.

“I always wanted to quit at a moment when I knew I could still win races,” he said at his retirement news conference in Salzburg.

“I believe that I was extremely lucky. As an athlete, I go home without any after effects. It was also that I want to play football with my little boy, climb the mountains and do things without any serous injury or pain.”

Marcel Hirscher. Skiing’s true G.O.A.T?