Primož Peterka
Encyclopedia
Primož Peterka (born February 28, 1979) is a former Slovenia
n ski jumper. He has won 15 World Cup events, making him the second most successful Slovenian winter sports athlete and one of the most successful Slovenian sports personalities.
, near Ljubljana
, Slovenia (former SFR Yugoslavia), he started ski jumping at a small ski jumping hill (critical point at approx. 20 metres) near his hometown Moravče
, a small town about 30 km north east from the capital Ljubljana
. He later joined a Ski club Triglav from Kranj
.
He first participated in the World Cup on January 4, 1996. Due to poor results of Slovenian jumpers, he was called as replacement for event in Innsbruck
, where he finished 8th. That was considered as superb result, so he soon became a leading jumper for Slovenia. For the rest of the season, he was jumping in great form, winning the events in Zakopane
and Falun
and finishing 9th overall. He also finished second behind Michael Uhrmann
at the 1996 Junior World Championships.
The 1996/1997 season was a big success for Peterka. He won 7 individual events, as well as the prestigious Four Hills Tournament
. In World Cup overall standings only Dieter Thoma
of Germany
was able to keep up with him, but Peterka ended the season on top. He also won the ski flying standings. On February 9, 1997 he became the first Slovenian to fly over 200 meters (with 203 meters long jump in Kulm
, Austria).
The 1997/1998 season was also successful. Peterka won 4 individual events and for the second time in a row the World Cup overall, defeating Kazuyoshi Funaki
of (Japan) in the final event of the season. He also won the ski jumping standings (standings where ski flying results are excluded). At the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano he claimed 5th place in the individual large hill event and 6th place in the individual normal hill event, results that some thought were disappointing.
A personality crisis is typical for many young ski jumpers and Peterka was no exception. After three successful seasons his results were suddenly no longer near the standards expected from him. During the few years time details from his personal life were discussed in public, mostly his clashes with officials and his relationship with Renata Bohinc, the 1996 beauty Queen of Slovenia.
A turning point in Peterka's life and career came in 2001, when his son was born. In the 2001/2002 season he returned to the ski jumping elite. At the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City he won the bronze team medal together with Robert Kranjec
, Damijan Fras and Peter Žonta
. Season 2002/2003 was also very successful, Peterka won two individual events (Kuusamo
and Garmisch-Partenkirchen
) and finished the season 7th overall.
Seasons after 2002/2003 were not so good for Peterka. Since 2004 he has never managed to finish inside top 10 in individual World Cup event. However, at the World Championships
in Oberstdorf
he won another bronze team medal for Slovenia (together with Jure Bogataj
, Rok Benkovič
and Jernej Damjan
). This makes Peterka the first Slovenian jumper with medals from both, Olympic games and the World Championship.
Two sports documentary films were made about his life and career. First is called Vleci, Primož ("Fly, Primož"). It was directed by Beno Hvala in 1997 and it's a story of his early career. Second is called Peterka: leto odločitve ("Peterka: Year of Decision"), it was directed by Vlado Škafar in 2002 and it focuses on personality crisis of young champion and finding his way back to the top.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n ski jumper. He has won 15 World Cup events, making him the second most successful Slovenian winter sports athlete and one of the most successful Slovenian sports personalities.
Career
Born in PrikrnicaPrikrnica
Prikrnica is a small village to the north of Dole pri Krašcah in the Moravče municipality in central Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of Upper Carniola. It is now included with the rest of the municipality into the Central Slovenia statistical region....
, near Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, Slovenia (former SFR Yugoslavia), he started ski jumping at a small ski jumping hill (critical point at approx. 20 metres) near his hometown Moravče
Moravce
Moravče is a settlement and a municipality in central Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Upper Carniola region. The entire municipality is now included in the Central Slovenia statistical region...
, a small town about 30 km north east from the capital Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. He later joined a Ski club Triglav from Kranj
Kranj
' is the third largest municipality and fourth largest city in Slovenia, with a population of 54,500 . It is located approximately 20 km north-west of Ljubljana...
.
He first participated in the World Cup on January 4, 1996. Due to poor results of Slovenian jumpers, he was called as replacement for event in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, where he finished 8th. That was considered as superb result, so he soon became a leading jumper for Slovenia. For the rest of the season, he was jumping in great form, winning the events in Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
and Falun
Falun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
and finishing 9th overall. He also finished second behind Michael Uhrmann
Michael Uhrmann
Michael Uhrmann is a German ski jumper who has competed since 1995. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won a gold medal in the team large hill event at Salt Lake City in 2002....
at the 1996 Junior World Championships.
The 1996/1997 season was a big success for Peterka. He won 7 individual events, as well as the prestigious Four Hills Tournament
Four Hills Tournament
The Four Hills Tournament is composed of four Ski Jumping World Cup events and has taken place in Germany and Austria each year since 1952.The Four Hills Tournament champion is the one who gets the most points over the four events...
. In World Cup overall standings only Dieter Thoma
Dieter Thoma
-Biography:Dieter Thoma is a German ski jumper who competed in the 1990s. In the 1990,s he was the second best German ski jumper after Jens Weißflog. Thoma wasn't the first known ski jumper in the family: His uncle Georg Thoma was both world and Olympic champion in the nordic combined...
of Germany
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
was able to keep up with him, but Peterka ended the season on top. He also won the ski flying standings. On February 9, 1997 he became the first Slovenian to fly over 200 meters (with 203 meters long jump in Kulm
Kulm
The name Kulm is a German language toponym which is derived from the Latin culmen, meaning hill. It may be used as follows:-Places:Austria* Kulm bei Weiz, a municipality in Styria* Kulm am Zirbitz, a municipality in Styria...
, Austria).
The 1997/1998 season was also successful. Peterka won 4 individual events and for the second time in a row the World Cup overall, defeating Kazuyoshi Funaki
Kazuyoshi Funaki
, born April 27, 1975 in Yoichi, Hokkaido) is a Japanese ski jumper.He ranked among the most successful sportsmen of its discipline, particularly in the 1990s. Funaki is known for his special variant of the V-style technique, where the body lies flat....
of (Japan) in the final event of the season. He also won the ski jumping standings (standings where ski flying results are excluded). At the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano he claimed 5th place in the individual large hill event and 6th place in the individual normal hill event, results that some thought were disappointing.
A personality crisis is typical for many young ski jumpers and Peterka was no exception. After three successful seasons his results were suddenly no longer near the standards expected from him. During the few years time details from his personal life were discussed in public, mostly his clashes with officials and his relationship with Renata Bohinc, the 1996 beauty Queen of Slovenia.
A turning point in Peterka's life and career came in 2001, when his son was born. In the 2001/2002 season he returned to the ski jumping elite. At the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City he won the bronze team medal together with Robert Kranjec
Robert Kranjec
Robert Kranjec is a Slovenian ski jumper who has competed since 1998. He won a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in the Team Large Hill event....
, Damijan Fras and Peter Žonta
Peter Žonta
Peter Žonta is a Slovenian ski jumper who competed from 1996 to 2005. He won a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in the team large hill event....
. Season 2002/2003 was also very successful, Peterka won two individual events (Kuusamo
Kuusamo
Kuusamo is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
and Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
) and finished the season 7th overall.
Seasons after 2002/2003 were not so good for Peterka. Since 2004 he has never managed to finish inside top 10 in individual World Cup event. However, at the World Championships
2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2005 took place February 16-27, 2005 in Oberstdorf, Germany for the second time after hosting it previously in 1987. The ski jumping team normal hill returned after not being held in 2003...
in Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
he won another bronze team medal for Slovenia (together with Jure Bogataj
Jure Bogataj
Jure Bogataj is a Slovenian ski jumper who has competed since 2002. He won a bronze medal in the team normal hill event at the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf and finished 28th in the individual large hill at those same championships.-External links:...
, Rok Benkovič
Rok Benkovic
Rok Benkovič is a former Slovenian ski jumper.Benkovič started with his sport career at the relatively advanced age of eleven, when he first participated in ski jumping in 1997. In Sollefteå, Sweden, he won the silver medal at the Junior World Championship on February 6, 2003...
and Jernej Damjan
Jernej Damjan
Jernej Damjan is a Slovenian ski jumper who has competed since 2002. He won a bronze medal in the team normal hill event at the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf and finished 28th in the individual large hill at those same championships.Damjan's best individual finish at the...
). This makes Peterka the first Slovenian jumper with medals from both, Olympic games and the World Championship.
Two sports documentary films were made about his life and career. First is called Vleci, Primož ("Fly, Primož"). It was directed by Beno Hvala in 1997 and it's a story of his early career. Second is called Peterka: leto odločitve ("Peterka: Year of Decision"), it was directed by Vlado Škafar in 2002 and it focuses on personality crisis of young champion and finding his way back to the top.
World Cup victories
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| January 27, 1996 |  ZakopaneZakopane Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a... |
| March 13, 1996 |  FalunFalun Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County... |
| December 8, 1996 |  KuusamoKuusamo Kuusamo is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .... |
| December 15, 1996 |  HarrachovHarrachov Harrachov is a town on the Mumlava river in the northern Czech Republic, 300 m from the border with Poland. It is within the Krkonoše mountain range, about above sea level.-History:... |
| January 1, 1997 |  Garmisch-PartenkirchenGarmisch-Partenkirchen Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria... |
| January 11, 1997 |  EngelbergEngelberg Engelberg is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Engelberg has a population of . , 21.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.It is the leading mountain resort in central Switzerland... |
| January 12, 1997 | Engelberg Engelberg Engelberg is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Engelberg has a population of . , 21.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.It is the leading mountain resort in central Switzerland... |
| February 9, 1997 |  TauplitzTauplitz Tauplitz is a municipality in the district of Liezen in Styria, Austria.... /Bad Mitterndorf Bad Mitterndorf Bad Mitterndorf is a town in Salzkammergut, Styria in Austria. Situated between Salzburg and Graz, it is a popular winter sports resort and also as a location for walking and cycling in the summer. Bad Mitterndorf is the site of two health spas with thermal baths, an outdoor swimming pool and... |
| March 13, 1997 | Falun Falun Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County... |
| January 18, 1998 | Zakopane Zakopane Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a... |
| March 8, 1998 | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... |
| March 11, 1998 | Falun Falun Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County... |
| March 15, 1998 |  HolmenkollenHolmenkollen ski festival The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II... |
| November 29, 2002 | Kuusamo Kuusamo Kuusamo is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .... |
| January 1, 2003 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen Garmisch-Partenkirchen Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria... |