Austrian ski racing great Marcel Hirscher retires

He’s arguably the greatest ski racer ever and one of the most dominant athletes of his generation, but Austrian Marcel Hirscher has announced his retirement from the sport.

The 30-year-old brought an end to his glittering career Wednesday, despite clinching a record eighth consecutive World Cup season overall title earlier this year.

SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA - JANUARY 29: Marcel Hirscher of Austria in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Slalom on January 29, 2019 in Schladming Austria. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)

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“Today is the day on which I will end my active career,” Hirscher said in a news conference broadcast live on national television in Salzburg.

The technical specialist has achieved unprecedented success in his 12 years on the World Cup circuit with six season titles in each of the slalom and giant slalom disciplines.

He won 67 World Cup races in all to sit third on the all-time list behind Lindsey Vonn (82) and Ingemar Stenmark (86). American star Mikaela Shiffrin is closing in on Hirscher’s tally, with 60 wins ahead of the new season, which starts in Solden, Austria in October.

But it’s Hirscher’s domination of the overall season standings – for points accrued in all disciplines – that marks him out; his nearest rival Annemarie Moser-Proell of Austria won six overall titles, while Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg won it fives times on the men’s circuit between 1985 and 1993.

Hirscher also won seven world titles in various disciplines and clinched two gold medals in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018 to add to a silver from Sochi four years earlier.

“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 in January.

Another Austrian great Franz Klammer, the 1976 Olympic downhill champion, told CNN in Kitzbuhel: “You cannot compare different times, different situations but Hirscher is definitely one of the best ever.”

READ: Mikaela Shiffrin seals stellar season with 60th career win

Marcel Hirscher (left) and Mikaela Shiffrin won the men's and women's World Cup overall titles for 2019.

At the season-ending World Cup finals in Soldeu, Andorra in March, Hirscher told CNN’s Alpine Edge he had accomplished “way, way more” than he ever dreamed possible.

But he admitted his priorities had changed after he and wife Laura had their first child – a boy – last year.

“Ski racing is not the most important thing any more,” Hirscher told CNN’s Christina Macfarlane.

READ: Lindsey Vonn: A career in pictures

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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‘Small dreams, live big’

It was no secret that Hirscher, a long-time megastar in Austria, had been mulling retirement for sometime. He admitted to CNN in Soldeu he was struggling with the decision because he felt “brilliant” and said he and his team were “getting better and better.”

But he says he made up his mind two weeks ago, and told the news conference: “I’m incredibly lucky to be able to sit here with two healthy knees.

“I want to play soccer with my kids, to ride motocross, and I’m glad I can do it now, and I’m fortunate to be healthy and survive my career without major injury.

“It will certainly be a big change, but some projects are waiting for me. It will not be easy but the beauty is that I can now choose the days to go skiing.”

Growing up in the small town of Annaberg in eastern Austria, Hirscher didn’t see foresee a fast track to greatness. When he joined the World Cup tour at 18, a single victory would have represented career success.

“Where I grew up nobody had done that before,” he said. “It would be something you can be proud of and maybe one medal at a world championship. Wow.

READ: How ski fitness can help unlock your ‘sixth sense’

“I dreamed never too big. I hate to dream really big and at the end of your career have just reached one percent of big dreams. That’s not fun. Better to have small dreams and live it big.”