The Slovenians can proudly look back on their Olympic
heritage. From 1912 to 1998 over 600 Slovenian athletes took
part in the Summer and Winter Olympics. The very first Slovenian ever
to participate in the Games was also the first Slovenian Olympic medal
winner - Rudolf Cvetko, who received silver as member of the Austrian
sabre team in Stockholm 1912.
The most outstanding Slovenian Olympic achievements were performed
by their gymnasts, who received a total of 11 medals, five of them
gold. Leon Stukelj, a triple. Olympic champion (overall and horizontal
bar in 1924, rings in 1928), was the most successful member of the
legendary Sokol gymnastic team, after World War II Miroslav Cerar
added two gold medals on the pommel horse.
At Winter Olympics the former Yugoslavia was represented almost
exclusively by the Slovenians, who consider skiing their national
sports. In 1984 and 1988 our skiers claimed four medals in Alpine
skiing and ski jumping.
In 1992, Slovenian athletes finally entered the magnificient
history of the Olympic Games under the name and national symbols of
their home country. First athletes to receive Olympic medals under the
Slovenian flag were rowers from Bled, who won two bronze medals in
Barcelona.
At Winter Games in Lillehammer in 1994 Alenka Dovzan, Katja Koren
and Jure Kosir claimed three bronze medals in Alpine Skiing.
In 1996, Andraz Vehovar and Brigita Bukovec, at Summer Olympic
Games in Atlanta received two silver medals in Canoe/Kajak-Slalom and
Athletics.
During the years of Olympic participation, Slovenia has won 23
Olympic medals, 18 captured by Slovenians in individual events and 5
by teams with Slovenian members only. Additionally to that 11
Slovenian captured 12 Olympic medals as members of Austrian and
Yugoslav national squads in team events.
Leon Stukelj, the best Slovene Olympic champion and the oldest
living olympic gold medal winner was celebrating his 100-th birthday
on November 12, 1998 in his natie town of Novo mesto. The gymnastic
academy "AVE TRIUMPHATOR" was attended by president of IOC Juan
Antonio Sammaranch and by all Slovene officials, including president
Milan Kucan.