Vancouver OWG 2010: Slovenian Students to Watch in Whistler

15 members of the Slovenian Olympic team participated at a Winter Universiade and 8 of them won one or more medals

Slovenian University Sports Association (SUSA) is closely following Slovenian athletes, especially students, at the 21st Winter Olympic Games, where the grand opening took place on Friday 12th February in Vancouver, Canada. At the winter event, 30 men and 17 women athletes represent Slovenia, which is a record number for the Slovenian delegation at the Winter Olympics so far. It should be specially noted that the Slovenian Olympic team is relatively young, since the average age of the Slovenian athletes is only just over 26 years; with the youngest being 17.

Students represent more than half of the Slovenian Olympic team. SUSA is particularly proud of its student-athletes because not only are they excellent sportsmen, they are successful students as well, which is nowadays very difficult, as they must combine the requirements of the daily top-level sports and studies.

SUSA is very proud of the fact that the Slovenian Olympic team is composed of 15 members, who already competed at the past Winter Universiades: Rok Perko, Bernard Vajdič, Andrej Šporn, Matic Skube, Tadeja Likozar Brankovič, Vesna Fabjan, Barbara Jezeršek, Gregor Urbas, Teodora Poštič, Rok Flander, Rok Marguč, Žan Košir, Gloria Kotnik, Mitja Oranič and Jernej Damjan. These athletes made good results at Winter Universiades, including winning a few medals.

SUSA can be especially proud on the before mentioned athletes because they have contributed to the development of Slovenian University Sports. In particular:

• Bernard Vajdič, who won the gold in super GS, gold in Alpine combined, and bronze in slalom in 2001 in Zakopane at the 20th Winter Universiade

• Andrej Šporn, who won the gold in the slalom in 2003 in Tarvisio at the 21st Winter Universiade, silver in downhill and bronze in slalom in

2005 in Innsbruck/Seefeld at the 22nd Winter Universiade

• Matic Skube, who won the silver in slalom in 2007 in Turin at the 23rd Winter Universiade

• Vesna Fabjan, who won gold in the sprint in cross-country in 2005 in Innsbruck/Seefeld at the 22nd Winter Universiade

• Rok Marguč, who won gold in the parallel giant slalom snowboarding in 2007 in Turin at the 23rd Winter Universiade

• Žan Košir, who won silver in the parallel giant slalom snowboarding in 2005 in Innsbruck/Seefeld and two years later same – silver in parallel giant slalom at the 23rd Winter Universiade in Turin

• Mitja Oranič, who won bronze in the Nordic combined team competition in 2005 in Innsbruck/Seefeld at 22nd Winter Universiade and two years later he won silver in the team race in the Nordic combined at the 23rd Winter Universiade in Turin

• Jernej Damjan, who became a university champion of the 120m ski jumping, while also winning silver in the team race in ski jumping in 2003 in Tarvisio at the 21st Winter Universiade

For many of them, the Winter Universiades were a highlight of their starting sports carreers, especially when winning medals. With their patience and perseverance, they have successfully built their careers. Therefore, SUSA is very happy to have such excellent athletes in Slovenia.

 Vesna Fabjan

Andrej Sporn