Slovenian Siblings Target Historic Olympic Ski Jumping Feat in Milan Cortina
The Prevc family has emerged as a ski jumping sensation, with three siblings now Olympic medalists and a fourth aiming to join them, potentially making history at the Milan Cortina Games. An early photo from 2010 captures teenager Peter Prevc gazing at his younger siblings—Nika, Domen, and Cene—perched on a sofa, their tiny bodies mimicking ski jumping poses as if foreshadowing future Olympic glory.
A Family Legacy of Excellence
Sixteen years later, three of the four siblings have secured Olympic medals, following Nika's silver win on the women's normal hill this past Saturday. Domen, currently the world's top male ski jumper, enters Monday's men's competition with high expectations for more hardware. Gorazd Kavcic, the photographer who took the iconic image for a local Slovenian newspaper, expressed his hopes for Domen's success, noting it would be amazing if all four Prevcs owned Olympic medals.
While the Prevc athletes are national heroes in Slovenia, they remain relatively unknown outside the niche world of ski jumping. However, the first Olympics for Nika, 20, and Domen, 26, could elevate their global profile, especially if they achieve podium finishes as anticipated.
Roots in a Slovenian Village
The family's journey began over two decades ago in Dolenja Vas, a village in southern Slovenia, when Peter started ski jumping as a young boy. Cene explained that it was natural for his siblings to follow suit. By 2010, when Kavcic captured the photo, Peter was already competing in the World Cup circuit and gaining recognition. The younger siblings were either learning to jump or, like Nika, eager to begin.
Nika shared that her childhood dreams are coming true after her second-place finish, vowing to continue her pursuit of excellence. Cene attributes their remarkable success to the values instilled by their parents: their father, a furniture business owner and ski jumping judge, and their mother, a librarian, taught them to excel in all endeavors.
Factors Behind Their Success
Kavcic believes the children's extensive practice played a crucial role, with their father frequently shuttling them between hills. Tomi Trbovc, a team spokesperson, highlighted Slovenia's development program for promising skiers as another key factor. All siblings attended a boarding school in Kranj, where education was tailored around daily training sessions.
Peter, 33, is a four-time Olympic medalist, including a gold in the mixed team jump at the Beijing Games four years ago. Cene, 29, shared a team silver with Peter in Beijing. Both are now retired but remain involved in the sport: Peter heads equipment development for the Slovenian ski jumping team, while Cene, who also performs standup comedy, provided commentary during the Milan Cortina Games.
Current Dominance and Olympic Prospects
Nika and Domen are reigning World Champions on the large hill, with Nika also holding the title for the normal hill. They hold records for the longest jumps and have dominated World Cup competition this season. Although Nika was favored to win gold on Saturday, technical errors during takeoff and landing allowed Anna Odine Stroem to claim the top spot. Stroem graciously acknowledged Prevc's skill, particularly in ski flying, where she rarely lands short.
Despite not winning gold, Nika became the first woman to join her brothers in winning Olympic medals in ski jumping. If Domen medals on Monday in the men's normal hill, it would mark the first time brother and sister ski jumpers have medaled at the same Olympics. They could also team up for the mixed team event on Tuesday.
The Younger Sibling's Path
The family includes a younger sibling, Ema, who is still in school. Cene Prevc noted that she has never shown interest in ski jumping, humorously calling her the only smart one in the family, ruling out any chance of her competing in the Olympics.
