Marcel Hirscher, one of the most successful ski racers of all-time, is planning to return next season after five years in retirement.
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Even more surprisingly, the record eight-time overall World Cup champion is going to compete for the Netherlands -- his mother's country -- instead of his native Austria.
The Austrian winter sports federation, known as the OSV, announced on Wednesday that it had released the 35-year-old Hirscher and endorsed his nation change.
Hirscher then said in a statement from the Dutch Skiing Association that he's returning "simply because I enjoy it.
"I have an excellent relationship with the OSV and am grateful to them for everything we have achieved," he added.
"This new project is best realised as a Dutch person."
While there have been Dutch skiers who have competed on the elite level, never has the Netherlands -- a country with no mountains -- had a top racer anywhere near Hirscher's calibre.
The nation change allows Hirscher to compete on Van Deer skis - the brand he helped create with Red Bull, his sponsor.
Van Deer is not on the list of brands approved for use by the Austrian federation.
"We have of course tried very hard to offer Marcel the best possible and individual conditions in the event of a return to Alpine racing and were able to explain these to him in a personal exchange," the OSV said.
"Of course, we very much regret his decision to request a change of nation to the Dutch Ski Association but in the end we supported it."
Hirscher was born and raised in Austria to an Austrian father and a Dutch mother, Sylvia. His father, Ferdinand, coached him throughout his career.
Patrick Riml, Red Bull's ski racing director, said that Hirscher plans to enter lower-level races in New Zealand in August to get the necessary points to return to the World Cup circuit and that his main aim is to compete at next season's world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria.
"He's been training the whole season. He's been on snow pretty much every day of the winter testing his equipment," Riml said, adding that Hirscher plans to compete in both slalom and giant slalom.
Hirscher retired in 2019 following his record eighth straight overall World Cup title.
In terms of World Cup race wins, Hirscher's 67 victories are second only behind men's record holder Ingemar Stenmark's 86. Mikaela Shiffrin holds the overall record with 97 wins.
Australian Associated Press
