Slovenia at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Slovenia competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] This was the nation's eighth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics as an independent nation. Slovenian athletes won five medals, including three gold, won by canoeist Benjamin Savšek, road racing cyclist Primož Roglič, and sport climber Janja Garnbret. Three gold medals is an all-time record for Slovenia at the Summer Olympics, having previously won two gold in 2000. The Olympics saw the debut of the men's basketball team who finished fourth in the tournament.

Slovenia at the
2020 Summer Olympics
IOC codeSLO
NOCSlovenian Olympic Committee
Websitewww.olympic.si (in Slovene and English)
in Tokyo, Japan
July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors53[1] in 14 sports
Flag bearers (opening)Eva Terčelj
Bojan Tokić
Flag bearer (closing)Janja Garnbret
Medals
Ranked 31st
Gold
3
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Total
5
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Austria (1912)
 Yugoslavia (1920–1988)

Medalists

MedalNameSportEventDate
 GoldBenjamin SavšekCanoeingMen's slalom C-126 July
 GoldPrimož RogličCyclingMen's road time trial28 July
 GoldJanja GarnbretSport climbingWomen's combined6 August
 SilverTina TrstenjakJudoWomen's 63 kg27 July
 BronzeTadej PogačarCyclingMen's road race24 July

Summary

In June 2021, the Olympic Committee of Slovenia officially confirmed 41 competitors who would represent the country at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.[3] On 4 July 2021, the national men's basketball team won the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Kaunas, secured a spot at the Olympic tournament, and bringing the total number of athletes to 53.[4] Eva Terčelj, a canoeist, and Bojan Tokić, a table tennis player, were chosen as the flag bearers at the opening ceremony. This was the first time in Olympic history that there were two flag bearers, a man and a woman.[5] Slovenia sent competitors in 14 sports. Apart from the men's basketball team, the sports with five or more competitors were athletics, cycling, canoeing, and judo. Miroslav Cerar, a gymnast who won gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, was chosen as the leader of the Slovenian Olympic Team.[3]

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Slovenian athletes won four medals, including one gold. Vasilij Žbogar, a sailor, has since retired from competing. Judokas Tina Trstenjak and Anamari Velenšek returned to the Olympic tournament, as did the canoeist Peter Kauzer. Other potential candidates included cyclists Tadej Pogačar, the incumbent Tour de France winner, and Primož Roglič, the sport climbing champion Janja Garnbret, canoeists Terčelj and Benjamin Savšek, and the discus thrower Kristjan Čeh. The basketball team, the reigning European champions led by the NBA star Luka Dončić, was seen as a team that could reach high.[6][7]

The first medal event for Slovenia took place on 24 July, the men's road race in cycling. Following an early breakaway, Jan Tratnik led the chase for a long time. In the finish kilometres, Richard Carapaz and Brandon McNulty broke away from the peloton that has by then thinned out. Carapaz won the race while the chase group set themselves up for the sprint for the silver and bronze medals, resulting in an 8-way race for the finish in the final metres of the race. Pogačar won bronze, slightly behind Wout van Aert. Roglič finished 28th with over 6 minutes behind, having still not completely recovered from his fall at Tour de France.[8][9][10]

Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.[11]

SportMenWomenTotal
Archery101
Athletics257
Basketball12012
Canoeing246
Cycling426
Golf011
Gymnastics011
Judo145
Sailing123
Shooting011
Sport climbing022
Swimming134
Table tennis303
Taekwondo101
Total282553

Archery

One Slovenian archer booked a place in the men’s individual recurve by finishing in the top four at the Europe Continental Qualification Tournament in Antalya, Turkey.[12]

AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / BM
ScoreSeedOpposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Žiga RavnikarMen's individual65141  Nespoli (ITA)
L 0–6
Did not advance

Athletics

Slovenian athletes further achieved the entry standards, either by qualifying time or by world ranking, in the following track and field events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):[13][14]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Track & road events
AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank
Luka JanežičMen's 400 m45.445 q45.367Did not advance
Maja MihalinecWomen's 100 mBye11.545Did not advance
Women's 200 m23.624Did not advance
Anita HorvatWomen's 400 m52.346Did not advance
Klara LukanWomen's 5000 mDNFDid not advance
Maruša MišmašWomen's 3000 m steeplechase9:23.362 Q9:14.846
Field events
AthleteEventQualificationFinal
DistancePositionDistancePosition
Kristjan ČehMen's discus throw65.453 q66.625
Tina ŠutejWomen's pole vault4.55=1 q4.50=5

Basketball

Indoor

Summary
TeamEventGroup stageQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / BM
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
RankOpposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Slovenia men'sMen's tournament  Argentina
W 118–100
 Japan
W 116–81
 Spain
W 95–87
1 Q  Germany
W 94–70
 France
L 89–90
 Australia
L 93–107
4

Men's tournament

Slovenia men's basketball team qualified for the Olympics by securing its lone outright berth and winning the final match over the host Lithuania at the Kaunas leg of the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, marking the nation's debut in the sport since the breakup of the SFR Yugoslavia.[15]

Team roster

The roster was announced on 17 July 2021.[16]

Slovenia national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG5Luka Rupnik28 – (1993-05-20)20 May 19931.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Cedevita Olimpija
PG6Aleksej Nikolić26 – (1995-02-21)21 February 19951.91 m (6 ft 3 in)BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque
SG7Klemen Prepelič28 – (1992-10-20)20 October 19921.89 m (6 ft 2 in)Valencia
SF8Edo Murić (C)29 – (1991-11-27)27 November 19912.02 m (6 ft 8 in)Cedevita Olimpija
C10Mike Tobey26 – (1994-10-10)10 October 19942.13 m (7 ft 0 in)Valencia
SG11Jaka Blažič31 – (1990-06-30)30 June 19901.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Cedevita Olimpija
SF15Gregor Hrovat26 – (1994-08-18)18 August 19941.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Cholet Basket
C27Žiga Dimec28 – (1993-02-20)20 February 19932.11 m (6 ft 11 in)Cedevita Olimpija
SF30Zoran Dragić32 – (1989-06-22)22 June 19891.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Baskonia
SF31Vlatko Čančar24 – (1997-04-10)10 April 19972.03 m (6 ft 8 in)Denver Nuggets
SF55Jakob Čebašek30 – (1991-04-28)28 April 19912.00 m (6 ft 7 in)Dinamo București
SF77Luka Dončić22 – (1999-02-28)28 February 19992.01 m (6 ft 7 in)Dallas Mavericks
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Age – describes age
    on 25 July 2021
Group play
PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1  Slovenia330329268+616Quarterfinals
2  Spain321256243+135
3  Argentina312268276−84
4  Japan (H)303235301−663
Source: TOCOG and FIBA
Rules for classification: 1) classification points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head game points difference; 4) head-to-head number of game points scored.
(H) Hosts
26 July 2021 (2021-07-26)
13:40
v
Argentina  100–118  Slovenia
Scoring by quarter: 24–32, 18–30, 24–26, 34–30
Pts: Scola 23
Rebs: Deck 8
Asts: Vildoza 5
Pts: Dončić 48
Rebs: Tobey 14
Asts: Dončić 5
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Referees: Steven Anderson (USA), Yohan Rosso (FRA), Yu Jung (TPE)

29 July 2021 (2021-07-29)
13:40
v
Slovenia  116–81  Japan
Scoring by quarter: 29–23, 24–18, 27–23, 36–17
Pts: Dončić 25
Rebs: Tobey 11
Asts: Dončić 7
Pts: Hachimura 34
Rebs: Hachimura , Watanabe 7
Asts: Hachimura , Tanaka 3
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Referees: Aleksandar Glišić (SRB), Michael Weiland (CAN), Ferdinand Pascual (PHI)

1 August 2021 (2021-08-01)
17:20
v
Spain  87–95  Slovenia
Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 20–21, 26–27, 17–27
Pts: Rubio 18
Rebs: Claver, M. Gasol 6
Asts: Rubio 9
Pts: Čančar 22
Rebs: Dončić, Tobey 14
Asts: Dončić 9
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Referees: Ademir Zurapović (BIH), Yohan Rosso (FRA), Matthew Kallio (CAN)
Quarterfinal
3 August 2021 (2021-08-03)
10:00
v
Slovenia  94–70  Germany
Scoring by quarter: 25–14, 19–23, 22–17, 28–16
Pts: Dragić 27
Rebs: Tobey 11
Asts: Dončić 11
Pts: 11
Rebs: Bonga 7
Asts: Bonga 3
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Referees: Ademir Zurapović (BIH), Matthew Kallio (CAN), Omar Bermúdez (MEX)
Semifinal
5 August 2021 (2021-08-05)
20:00
v
France  90–89  Slovenia
Scoring by quarter: 27–29, 15–15, 29–21, 19–24
Pts: De Colo 25
Rebs: Gobert 16
Asts: De Colo 5
Pts: Tobey 23
Rebs: Dončić 10
Asts: Dončić 18
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Referees: Guilherme Locatelli (BRA), Juan Fernández (ARG), Mārtiņš Kozlovskis (LAT)
Bronze medal game
7 August 2021 (2021-08-07)
20:00
v
Slovenia  93–107  Australia
Scoring by quarter: 19–20, 26–33, 22–25, 26–29
Pts: Dončić 22
Rebs: Dončić 8
Asts: Dončić 7
Pts: Mills 42
Rebs: Ingles 9
Asts: Mills 9
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Referees: Roberto Vázquez (PUR), Yohan Rosso (FRA), Matthew Kallio (CAN)

Canoeing

Slalom

Slovenian canoeists qualified one boat for each of the following classes through the 2019 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in La Seu d'Urgell, Spain.[18]

AthleteEventPreliminarySemifinalFinal
Run 1RankRun 2RankBestRankTimeRankTimeRank
Benjamin SavšekMen's C-198.821105.871298.822 Q104.265 Q98.25
Peter KauzerMen's K-193.044105.642393.0411 Q99.1012Did not advance
Alja KozorogWomen's C-1124.0815113.077113.078 Q129.7212Did not advance
Eva TerčeljWomen's K-1115.9315109.119109.1111 Q112.4824Did not advance

Sprint

Slovenia qualified a single boat in the women's K-2 200 m for the Games by finishing fourth overall and second among those nations eligible for Olympic qualification at the 2019 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, Hungary.[19]

AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
TimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
Anja Osterman
Špela Ponomarenko Janić
Women's K-2 500 m1:48.5094 QF1:46.9291 SFDNFDid not advance

Qualification Legend: FA = Qualify to final (medal); FB = Qualify to final B (non-medal)

Cycling

Road

Slovenia entered a squad of five riders (four men and one woman) to compete in their respective Olympic road races, by virtue of their top 50 national finish (for men) and top 22 (for women) in the UCI World Ranking.[20]

AthleteEventTimeRank
Tadej PogačarMen's road race6:06.33
Jan Polanc6:15:3843
Primož RogličMen's road race6:11.5328
Men's time trial55:04:19
Jan TratnikMen's road race6:21:4667
Eugenia BujakWomen's road race3:55:1319

Mountain biking

Slovenia entered one mountain biker to compete in the women's cross-country race by finishing in the top two of the elite division vying for qualification at the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada.

AthleteEventTimeRank
Tanja ŽakeljWomen's cross-country1:24:3821

Golf

Slovenia entered one golfer into the Olympic tournament. Pia Babnik (world no. 301) qualified directly among the top 60 eligible players for the women's event based on the IGF World Rankings.[21]

AthleteEventRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Total
ScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreParRank
Pia BabnikWomen's71717367282−2=34

Gymnastics

Rhythmic

Slovenia entered one rhythmic gymnast into the Olympic competition for the first time, by receiving a spare berth freed up by host nation Japan, as the next highest-ranked athlete, not yet qualified, in the individual all-around at the 2019 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.[22][23]

AthleteEventQualificationFinal
HoopBallClubsRibbonTotalRankHoopBallClubsRibbonTotalRank
Ekaterina VedeneevaIndividual22.80023.55022.55020.80089.70016Did not advance

Judo

Slovenia qualified five judoka (one man and four women) for each of the following weight classes at the Games. All of them, highlighted by Rio 2016 Olympians Adrian Gomboc (men's half-lightweight, 66 kg) and defending champion Tina Trstenjak (women's half-middleweight, 63 kg), were selected among the top 18 judoka of their respective weight classes based on the IJF World Ranking List of June 28, 2021.[24]

AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Adrian GombocMen's −66 kg  Mungandu (ZAM)
W 10–00
 Zantaraia (UKR)
W 01–00
 An B-u (KOR)
L 00–10
Did not advance  Shmailov (ISR)
L 00–01
Did not advance7
Maruša ŠtangarWomen's −48 kg  Kang Y-j (KOR)
W 10–01
 Pareto (ARG)
L 00–10
Did not advance
Kaja KajzerWomen's −57 kg  Dorjsuren (MGL)
W 01–00
 Lien C-l (TPE)
W 10–00
 Gjakova (KOS)
L 00–11
Bye  Nelson-Levy (ISR)
W 10–00
 Klimkait (CAN)
L 00–01
5
Tina TrstenjakWomen's −63 kg  Han H-j (KOR)
W 01–00
 Cabaña (ESP)
W 10–00
 Barrios (VEN)
W 10–01
 Centracchio (ITA)
W 10–00
Bye  Agbegnenou (FRA)
L 00–01
Anamari VelenšekWomen's +78 kg  Cutro-Kelly (USA)
W 11–00
 Altheman (BRA)
L 00–10
Did not advance

Sailing

Slovenian sailors qualified one boat in each of the following classes through the 2018 Sailing World Championships, the class-associated Worlds, and the continental regattas.[25]

AthleteEventRaceNet pointsFinal rank
12345678910M*
Žan Luka ZelkoMen's Laser823291731362026519EL17826
Veronika Macarol
Tina Mrak
Women's 4708166947392714695

M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race

Shooting

Slovenia granted an invitation from ISSF to send two-time Olympian Živa Dvoršak (women's 50 m rifle 3 positions) to the rescheduled Games as the highest-ranked shooter vying for qualification in the ISSF World Olympic Rankings of 6 June 2021.[26][27]

AthleteEventQualificationFinal
PointsRankPointsRank
Živa DvoršakWomen's 10 m air rifle627.211Did not advance
Women's 50 m rifle 3 positions11737 Q406.27

Sport climbing

Slovenia entered two sport climbers into the Olympic tournament. Janja Garnbret qualified directly for the women's combined event, by winning the gold medal and securing one of the seven provisional berths at the 2019 IFSC World Championships in Hachioji, Japan.[28][29] Meanwhile, Mia Krampl finished in the top six of those eligible for qualification at the IFSC World Qualifying Event in Toulouse, France, earning a quota place and joining with Gambret on the Slovenian roster.[30]

AthleteEventQualificationFinal
SpeedBoulderLeadTotalRankSpeedBoulderLeadTotalRank
BestPlaceResultPlaceHoldTimePlaceBestPlaceResultPlaceHoldTimePlace
Janja GarnbretWomen's9.44144T4z 4 4130456.004 Q7.8152T3z 5 3137+15
Mia Krampl10.43180T4z 0 51426+3:1671764.0018Did not advance

Swimming

Slovenian swimmers further achieved qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially 1 at the Olympic Selection Time (OST)):[31][32]

AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Martin BauMen's 400 m freestyle3:52.5624Did not advance
Men's 800 m freestyle8:04.7932Did not advance
Katja FainWomen's 800 m freestyle8:41.1326Did not advance
Women's 1500 m freestyle16:35.9230Did not advance
Women's 400 m individual medley4:44.6615Did not advance
Špela PeršeWomen's 10 km open water2:08:33.024
Janja ŠegelWomen's 100 m freestyle54.7324Did not advance
Women's 200 m freestyle1:58.3817Did not advance

Table tennis

Slovenia entered three athletes into the table tennis competition at the Games. For the first time in history, the men's team secured a berth by advancing to the quarterfinal round of the 2020 World Olympic Qualification Event in Gondomar, Portugal, permitting a maximum of two starters to compete in the men's singles tournament.[33]

AthleteEventPreliminaryRound 1Round 2Round 3Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Darko JorgićMen's singlesBye  Robles (ESP)
W 4–3
 Pitchford (GBR)
W 4–2
 Harimoto (JPN)
W 4–3
 Lin Y-j (TPE)
L 0–4
Did not advance
Bojan TokićBye  Hazin (CAN)
W 4–0
 Pucar (CRO)
W 4–0
 Calderano (BRA)
L 1–4
Did not advance
Darko Jorgić
Deni Kozul
Bojan Tokić
Men's team  South Korea (KOR)
L 1–3
Did not advance

Taekwondo

Slovenia entered one athlete into the taekwondo competition at the Games for the first time since London 2012. Ivan Trajkovič qualified directly for the men's heavyweight category (+80 kg) by finishing among the top five taekwondo practitioners at the end of the WT Olympic Rankings.

AthleteEventRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Ivan TrajkovičMen's +80 kg  Obame (GAB)
W 26–5 PTG
 Larin (ROC)
L 3–16
Did not advance  Taufatofua (TGA)
W 22–1 PTG
 In K-d (KOR)
L 4–5
5

References