Slovenia National Thread / Paris 2024

[justony 475]

 

 OLYMPIC FOCUS  

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have  representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 9

 

Boxing

 

This is yet another sport without any Slovenian athletes in Olympic history. 

 

But not so long professional boxing was very succesful.

 

Dejan Zavec (aka Jan Zaveck; Mr. Sympaticus) became first Slovenian to won a World Champion title. He fought between 2003 and 2015, with 35 wins (19 K.O.) and only 4 losses, became 4 times IBF welterweight champion and WBF light-middleweight champion.

 

All those amazing results even made Zavec first boxer with an award of Slovenian Sportsperson of the Year (in 2010).

 

On amateur level there are no such results. Two boxers competed at last WCH in Ekaterinburg, Aljaž Venko and Nik Nikolov both lost in opening round. Tadej Černoga finished in last 16 at the European Games.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2020 by justony

[justony 475]

 

  OLYMPIC FOCUS   

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have   representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 10

 

Canoe Slalom

 

 

Previously known also as Canoe Wildwater or Whitewater Slalom, this sport is one of the most succesful in history of our country. 

 

First athletes competed already in Munich 1972, there were 6 canoers in 4 boats, finishing best Andrejašič and Guzelj as 6th in C2.

 

It took another 20 years, when in Barcelona under Slovenian flag again 6 men competed in Canoeing. Best result was once more 6th place, this time from Marjan Štrukelj in K1.

 

In 1996 came Atlanta, and on River Ocoee then 24 year old Andraž Vehovar, who previously won only one World Cup at home in Tacen, finished in silver position in K1, which also brought him title of Slovenian Sportsperson of the Year.

 

In 2000, Nada Mali became first female to represent our country, and in 2012 we had competitors in all 4 categories.

 

Peter Kauzer is one of the most succesful athletes ever in this sport, but he had to wait for Olympic medal until his third performance, in Rio he finally won a silver in K1, becoming second Canoe Slalom medalist in history.

 

Slovenia has won 25 medals in WCH, 6 of them gold, and there is no surprise our team will be perfect in Tokio, with competitors in all categories (K1 and C1 for both, men and women).

 

Edited January 14, 2020 by justony

[justony 475]

 

  OLYMPIC FOCUS    

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have   representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 11

 

Canoe Sprint

 

 

Canoe Sprint has even much more history than its »slalom brother«. First competition took place in 1936, Metod Gabršček and Bojan Saunik finished 11th in Men's K2 10.000m folding.

 

In 1952, Josip Lipokatić competed in K1, he came in 13th in 10.000m and 15th in 1.000m.

 

In modern history, Jernej Župančič Regent qualified for Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, both time for K1 1000m. He was two times 15th.

 

Beijing was also first stop for Špela Ponomarenko Janić, who will compete in Tokio on her fourth Olympics, this time in pair with Anja Osterman.

 

 Ponomarenko Janić has two times qualified in an Olympic final, as she came 6th in K1 500m (Beijing) and even better, finishing 4th in K1 200m (Rio).

 

It is only a matter of time, before first Olympic medal will be won. In last WCH in Szeged Ponomarenko Janić and Osterman took silver in 200m and bronze in 500m. Meanwhile Ponomarenko Janić will probably not compete in single 500m event.

 

Among men, Jošt Zakrajšek will try to qualify in K1 1000m (13th in last WCH).

[justony 475]

 

  OLYMPIC FOCUS   

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have   representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 12

 

Cycling BMX

 

 

BMX Cycling is one of the newest sports in Olympic calendar, starting in 2008.

 

So far, no athlete from Slovenia was so good to compete in big events, which is quite weird, according to cycling tradition and number of recreation parks, which grew in last few decades. 

Edited January 14, 2020 by justony

[justony 475]

 

  OLYMPIC FOCUS   

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have   representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 13

 

Cycling Mountain Bike

 

 

Mountain Bike has a little richer Olympic history than BMX, with Atlanta 1996 being first competition. It was also a bit friendly to Slovenian Cycling.  

 

Primož Štrancar and Rok Drašler had the chance to represent our country in Olympic Cross Country at Sydney 2000. Later on, it was time for the ladies. Blaža Klemenčič (later Pintarič) took her place in Beijing 2008 and also in London 2012, where in Rio she was banned due to doping offence. Tjaša Žakelj is our most succesful athlete, finishing 10th in London and 13th in Rio. 

 

Žakelj will most probably compete at her third Olympics in Tokio, while there is still uncertain, whether Pintarič will qualify.

[justony 475]

 

 Road to Tokyo 2020  

(Pot v Tokio 2020)

 

 Date: 10/02/2020

(168 days to Games)

 

Sorry for a little delay, names to be known in future.

 

New qualifed athletes (15):

Maja Mihalinec - Athletics - 200m W

all 4 boats (unknown) - Canoe Slalom 

4 riders - Cycling Road - Road Race Men

1 rider - Cycling Road - Road Race Women

Ekaterina Vedenejeva - Gymnastics Rythmic - Women

Mia Krampl - Sport Climbing - Women (through Olympic Qualifications)

National Team - Table Tennis - Men's Team 

 

Currently qualified athletes(24):

ATHLETICS (3): Maja Mihalinec, Maruša Mišmaš, Tina Šutej

CANOE SLALOM (4): unknown

CANOE SPRINT (2): Anja Osterman, Špela Ponomarenko Janić

CYCLING ROAD (5): unknown (4 men, 1 woman)

GYMNASTICS RYTHMIC (1): Ekaterina Vedenejeva

SAILING (3): Žan Luka Zelko, Tina Mrak, Veronika Macarol

SPORT CLIMBING (2): Janja Garnbret, Mia Krampl

SWIMMING (1): Tjaša Oder

TABLE TENNIS (3): unknown

[mihamiha 124]

great day for Slovenia sport.

Zajc was 2nd in ski jumping in Kulm

and Hrovat was 3rd in home ski race in Kranjska gora.

[justony 475]

 

  OLYMPIC FOCUS    

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have    representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 14

 

Cycling Road

 

 

Road Cycling is currently one of the most prominent sports in Slovenia. Primož Roglič is best cyclist in the World rankings, which is remarkable. Roglič has won last Tour of Spain (Vuelta 2019) and took silver medal at WCH in Time Trial in Bergen

2017. Former ski jumper is also current Slovenian Sportsman of the Year.

 

Tadej Pogačar showed great talent several times, finishing as best young rider 3rd in Vuelta, not to mention others.

 

Back to Olympics, our country has not won an Olympic medal so far. Closest was Andrej Hauptman in Athens 2004, where he took 5th place.

 

To this day, 35 men and 2 women competed at Olympic Games, being first in 1924 Josip Kosmatin, as first lady was an Italian veteran Sigrid Corneo, competing in Beijing 2008.

 

Most numerous participation was 5 athletes (1984, 2008, 2016), which will be equaled in Tokio, because according to UCI Rankings 4 men and 1 woman could perform in Japan.

 

Until now, Tadej Valjavec is the only one, who competed at three Olympics, though Bojan Ropret raced in 1976 on Track and later on twice in Road Cycling.

 

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by justony

[justony 475]

  

   OLYMPIC FOCUS    

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have    representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 15

 

Cycling Track

 

 

Track Cycling is surprisingly not so well developed in our country, you will not found any competitors on international level.

 

But there is something, you should know. It took ages, before our government finally found resources to cover track near Novo Mesto (Češča Vas). After more than 20 years this wonderful object is under roof, and this is not only good for Track Cycling development, but also for our Indoor Athletics, this winter was organized first ever National Championships on tracks. Until now, all running events, except sprints, took place in Austria (Linz or Vienna).

 

 

This does not mean, Slovenia never had an Olympian on Tracks. In Montreal 1976 Bojan Ropret finished 22nd in Men's Individual Pursuit. It will take some time, in Tokyo there will be no Slovenian on velodrome, but maybe in Paris or at least in Los Angeles this could change. 

 

EDIT: Kristjan Gregorič was last Slovenian to compete in WCH, it was in Apeldoorn 2011, where he finished second to last (49th) in Sprint.

Edited March 4, 2020 by justony

[justony 475]

  

   OLYMPIC FOCUS    

 

I will try to go through all previous performances and to find out, what the future brings, if particular sport will have    representatives in Tokio.

 

PART 16

 

Diving

 

 

This is another sport, which hardly exists in Slovenia. But, in Berlin 1936, Branko Ziherl competed for Yugoslavia, he even finished in 10th place from 3m board. On recreative level, Slovenia has its place in High Diving. Every year many courageous people from more different nations come to Kanal ob Soči, where they jump from 18m tall bridge into a river.