The 36 Best Slovenian Athletes of All Time

By YPB TeamNov 4

A country of two million keeps producing Tour winners, ski legends and NBA stars, with Olympic champions stretching back to 1920s gymnastics.

1
Tim Gajser
A motocross rider who won the MX2 world title in 2015 and the MXGP world title in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
1000pts
2
Tadej Pogačar
A road cyclist who won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026 and the road race world title in 2024 and 2025.
999pts
3
Luka Dončić
A basketball player who won the 2018 EuroLeague and its MVP award with Real Madrid, EuroBasket 2017 with Slovenia and the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
999pts
4
Anže Kopitar
A Los Angeles Kings centre and captain who won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 and the Selke Trophy in 2016.
878pts
5
Nika Prevc
A ski jumper who won the 2024–25 overall World Cup and three medals at Milano Cortina 2026, including mixed-team gold.
831pts
6
Kristjan Čeh
A discus thrower who won the world title at Eugene in 2022.
779pts
7
Jan Oblak
An Atlético Madrid goalkeeper who won the Zamora Trophy six times and the 2020–21 La Liga title.
740pts
8
Miroslav Cerar
A gymnast who won Olympic gold on the pommel horse for Yugoslavia at Tokyo 1964 and Mexico City 1968.
719pts
9
Samir Handanović
A goalkeeper who spent eleven seasons at Inter Milan and captained the club to the 2020–21 Serie A title.
719pts
10
Peter Prevc
A ski jumper who won the 2015–16 overall World Cup and Four Hills Tournament and Olympic silver and bronze at Sochi 2014.
652pts
11
Tina Trstenjak
A judoka who won Olympic gold in the −63 kg class at Rio 2016 and silver at Tokyo 2020.
652pts
12
Primož Roglič
A former ski jumper turned cyclist who won the Vuelta a España four times, the 2023 Giro d'Italia and the Olympic time trial in Tokyo.
576pts
13
Jure Košir
An alpine skier who won independent Slovenia's first World Cup race and slalom bronze at Lillehammer 1994.
575pts
14
Janja Garnbret
A sport climber who won Olympic gold in the combined event at Tokyo 2020 and in the combined boulder-and-lead event at Paris 2024.
575pts
15
Robert Kranjec
A ski jumper who won the 2012 Ski Flying World Championships at Vikersund.
575pts
16
Ivo Daneu
A guard who was MVP of the 1967 FIBA World Championship and won the 1970 world title and 1968 Olympic silver with Yugoslavia.
575pts
17
Domen Prevc
A ski jumper who set the ski-flying world record of 254.5 m at Planica in 2025 and won large-hill and mixed-team gold at Milano Cortina 2026.
487pts
18
Tina Maze
An alpine skier who won Olympic downhill and giant slalom gold at Sochi 2014 and the 2012–13 overall World Cup with a record 2,414 points.
487pts
19
Goran Dragić
A point guard who led Slovenia to the EuroBasket 2017 title as tournament MVP and made the All-NBA Third Team in 2014.
487pts
20
Srečko Katanec
A midfielder who played for Yugoslavia at the 1990 World Cup, won Serie A with Sampdoria in 1991 and later coached Slovenia to Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
487pts
21
Bojan Križaj
A slalom skier who won eight World Cup races, the 1987 slalom World Cup title and 1982 world championship silver for Yugoslavia.
487pts
22
Primož Peterka
A ski jumper who won the overall World Cup in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and the 1996–97 Four Hills Tournament.
384pts
23
Ilka Štuhec
An alpine skier who won the women's downhill world title in 2017 and 2019.
384pts
24
Matej Mohorič
A road cyclist who won Milan–San Remo in 2022, Tour de France stages in 2021 and 2023, and the 2023 gravel world title.
384pts
25
Peter Kauzer
A kayak slalom paddler who won the K1 world title in 2009 and 2011 and Olympic silver at Rio 2016.
384pts
26
Urša Bogataj
A ski jumper who won normal-hill and mixed-team Olympic gold at Beijing 2022.
384pts
27
Iztok Čop
A rower who won Olympic gold in the double sculls with Luka Špik at Sydney 2000 and silver in the same event at Athens 2004.
384pts
28
Benjamin Savšek
A canoe slalom paddler who won Olympic gold in the C1 event at Tokyo 2020.
384pts
29
Primož Kozmus
A hammer thrower who won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008, the 2009 world title and Olympic silver at London 2012.
384pts
30
Urška Žolnir
A judoka who won Olympic bronze at Athens 2004 and gold in the −63 kg class at London 2012.
384pts
31
Petra Majdič
A cross-country skier who won Olympic bronze in the classic sprint at Vancouver 2010 despite breaking ribs in a fall during warm-up.
384pts
32
Žan Košir
A snowboarder who won parallel slalom silver and parallel giant slalom bronze at Sochi 2014.
384pts
33
Sara Isaković
A swimmer who won Olympic silver in the 200 m freestyle at Beijing 2008.
262pts
34
Rajmond Debevec
A rifle shooter who won Olympic gold in the 50 m three positions at Sydney 2000 and competed at eight Olympic Games.
262pts
35
Leon Štukelj
A gymnast who won three Olympic gold medals for Yugoslavia, two at Paris 1924 and one on the rings at Amsterdam 1928.
0pts
36
Vasilij Žbogar
A sailor who won Olympic medals at three Games: Laser bronze in 2004, Laser silver in 2008 and Finn silver in 2016.
0pts