# The 36 Best Slovenian Athletes of All Time

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

*By YPB Team · Published November 4, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-36-best-slovenian-athletes-of-all-time*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

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

Tags: sports, olympics, athletes, slovenia
