Peter Prevc Explained

Peter Prevc
Birth Date:1992 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Kranj, Slovenia[1]
Height:1.79 m
Personalbest:250m (820feet)
Vikersund, 14 February 2015
Seasons:20102024
Individual Starts:345
Totalpodiums:62
Wins:24
Wcoveralls:1 (2016)
Fhtitles:1 (2016)
Sftitles:3 (2014, 2015, 2016)
Show-Medals:no

Peter Prevc (in Slovenian ˈpéːtəɾ ˈpɾéːwts/; born 20 September 1992) is a Slovenian former ski jumper. He won the 2016 Ski Jumping World Cup overall title and four Olympic medals, including gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the mixed team event. He also won the 2016 Four Hills Tournament, 2016 Ski Flying World Championships, and three consecutive Ski Flying World Cup overall titles (2014, 2015, and 2016). In addition, Prevc won two team events with the Slovenia national team at the Ski Flying World Championships, in 2022 and 2024.

A specialist in ski flying,[2] Prevc is a former world record holder and the first athlete in history to land a jump of 250m (820feet), which remains the Slovenian national distance record. In 2015, in Planica, Prevc became one of the few ski jumpers in history to achieve a "perfect jump", with all five judges awarding him the maximum style points of 20.[3] In the following year, Prevc achieved the most individual World Cup competition wins in a single season – 15 – which is also a record.[4]

Prevc was named Slovenian Sportsman of the Year for four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016. In March 2016, he was voted Athlete of the Month by the United States Sports Academy and also ranked third in the Athlete of the Year voting for 2016.

Early life

Prevc was born in Kranj to Božidar and Julijana Prevc; the family has since been living in the village of Dolenja Vas. He has two brothers and two sisters and is the oldest of five children.[5] [6] Both his brothers, Domen and Cene, and one of his sisters, Nika, are also FIS Ski Jumping World Cup jumpers.[5] His father owns a furniture business and is also an international ski jumping referee.[7] When younger, he trained cross-country skiing and also tried ski jumping. His mother is a librarian.[8]

Prevc attended the first half of his elementary school education in Selca, the second half in Železniki, and gymnasium in Kranj.[9] At the age of nine, Prevc started training in ski jumping at the Bregarca K25 hill, located in Dolenja Vas.[10] At the Junior World Ski Championships in February 2009, he finished 6th in the individual and 5th in the team event.

Professional career

2009–10 to 2012–13: World Cup debut and early seasons

Prevc made his World Cup debut in the 2009–10 season, finishing 22nd in Lillehammer, Norway, on 5 December 2009. In January 2010, at the Junior World Championships, Prevc won silver at the individual and bronze at the team event.

In February 2010, he was a member of the Slovenian team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he finished 7th in the individual normal hill and 16th in the individual large hill. Together with Robert Kranjec, Primož Pikl, and Mitja Mežnar, Prevc finished 8th in the team large hill event.[11] He finished the World Cup season in the 35th place in the overall standings.[12]

In the 2010–11 season, Prevc first participated at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo. Together with Kranjec, Jernej Damjan, and Jurij Tepeš, he won a bronze medal at the team large hill. At the end of the year, the ski jumping team was voted the Slovenian Sports Team of the Year by the Association of Slovene sports journalists.[13]

In March 2011, Prevc made his ski flying debut in Planica. In the sky flying team event, Prevc won his first World Cup podium, third place. In the overall standings, he finished the season in 24th place.[12]

In the 2011–12 season, Prevc recorded four top 10 finishes. In February, Prevc was a member of the team that won the first-ever World Cup team victory for Slovenia at the ski flying team event in Oberstdorf, together with Kranjec, Tepeš, and Jure Šinkovec. Prevc jumped 225.5 meters (which would equal the hill record) in the one-series event but fell hard after the landing and injured his shoulder.[14] He needed surgery which meant he had to finish the season early and also missed out the Ski Flying World Championships in Vikersund. Although he missed the last five events of the season, Prevc finished 15th in the overall standings.[12]

In the 2012–13 season, Prevc won three World Cup team events in Zakopane, Willingen, and Planica. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013 in Val di Fiemme, Prevc won a silver medal at the individual large hill event[15] and a bronze medal at the individual normal hill event.[16]

At the season's last two events in Planica, Prevc reached his first two individual World Cup podiums, a second and a third place. He finished the season 7th in the overall standings.[12] At the end of the year, Prevc was voted the Slovenian Sportsman of the Year for the first time.[13]

2013–14 and 2014–15: The runner-up

In the 2013–14 season, Prevc recorded his first individual World Cup win in Kulm. Prevc won the season's ski flying title with second place at the same venue since there were only two scheduled ski flying events. He went on to win in Sapporo, which brought him to the top of the World Cup overall standings for the first time in his career,[17] where he remained for the next couple of events.

At the end of the season, he finished second in the overall rankings after Kamil Stoch of Poland. Prevc also won the last world cup event of the season in Planica, accumulating three wins and eleven podiums in total, which was his most successful season until then.[12]

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Prevc won a silver medal at the normal hill event and a bronze medal at the large hill event.[11] At the FIS Ski Flying World Championships 2014, he took bronze after the last two out of four jumps were cancelled.[12]

The 2014–15 season was very successful for Prevc, with three wins and eleven more podiums in the World Cup. In addition, he won two team events and one third place with the Slovenian team. On 14 February 2015, Prevc set a new ski flying world record in Vikersund with a 250 m (820 ft) jump; this record was beaten the following day with a 251.5m (825.1feet) jump by Anders Fannemel.[18] On 20 March in Planica, Prevc achieved a "perfect jump" with all style referees awarding him maximum 20 points. At the same event, he also set a new hill record with 248.5 m.[19] Prevc spent a couple of weeks at the top of the standings during the season. In the end, he had the same number of points as Severin Freund of Germany, but the overall title went to Freund because of the higher number of victories during the season (9 for Freund and 3 for Prevc).[20] Prevc defended the ski flying title.[12]

At the 2015 World Championships, Prevc finished fourth on the large hill, thirteenth on the normal hill, and sixth with the Slovenian team at the team event. Prevc took two third places at the 2014–15 Four Hills Tournament, which secured him a third place in the overall tournament standing.[12]

2015–16: The record-breaking season

In the 2015–16 season, Prevc won 15 out of 29 World Cup events, the Four Hills Tournament, and the overall and ski flying titles.[12]

On 19 December in Engelberg, Peter and his younger brother Domen Prevc both finished on the podium as the first pair of brothers in World Cup history.[21] With three wins and one third place, Prevc won the 2016 Four Hills Tournament, thus becoming the second Slovenian ski jumper to win the Tournament after Primož Peterka in the 1996–97 season.[22]

On 16 January at the Ski Flying World Championships in Kulm, Prevc became the ski flying world champion. The event consisted of three rounds, as the fourth round was cancelled because of strong wind. He set two hill records during the competition.[23]

On 14 February in Vikersund, Prevc won the event despite sliding upon landing (he remained on his feet nevertheless), which rarely happens in ski jumping.[24] By winning the second event in Almaty on 28 February, Prevc secured his first World Cup title, six events before the end of the season. At the end of the season, Prevc broke several statistical records. He won the highest number of points, victories, and podium finishes in a single season (2303 points, 15 victories, and 22 podiums in total, the previous records being 2083 points, 13 victories, and 20 podiums by Gregor Schlierenzauer from the 2008–09 season). Other records include the point difference between the first and the second in the overall standings (813), the best average of points per event (79.4), and the highest number of points in the Four Hills Tournament (1139.4).[25] [26] By winning the ski flying title, Prevc became the first ski jumper to win the title for three years in a row.[27] [28]

2016–17

At the first event of the 2016–17 season in Ruka, Finland, Prevc, who was leading after the first series, fell upon landing in the second series and finished third. His brother Domen scored his first World Cup victory on that occasion.[29] Throughout December, Prevc was struggling with his jumps,[30] fell again upon landing at the first event in Engelberg[31] and did not reach the final round at the second event.[31] After the Four Hill Tournament, where he finished 14th, Prevc skipped the events in Wisla.[32] Following the break, his results started to improve again. Prevc was the best individual in the team event in Zakopane, where the Slovenian team finished third.[33] The team event in Willingen saw, for the first time, all three Prevc brothers representing Slovenia; together with Tepeš, they finished fourth.[34] On 11 February, he won his only event of the season in Sapporo; it was a double win with Maciej Kot.[35] Prevc's best result at the World Championships was a fourth place in the mixed event. He collected five more top 10 World Cup finishes by the end of the season. He finished 9th in the overall and 5th both in the sky flying and in the inaugural Raw Air standings.[12]

Major tournament results

Winter Olympics

YearPlaceIndividualTeam
NormalLarge MenMixed
scope=row align=center2010 Vancouver7168N/A
scope=row align=center2014 Sochialign=center style="text-align:center"5N/A
scope=row align=center2018 Pyeongchang12105N/A
scope=row align=center2022 Beijing410align=center style="text-align:center"align=center

FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

YearPlaceIndividualTeam
NormalLarge MenMixed
scope=row align=center2011 Oslo17256
scope=row align=center2013 Val di Fiemmealign=center style="text-align:center"68
scope=row align=center2015 Falun13465
scope=row align=center2017 Lahti11954
scope=row align=center2019 Seefeld24 16 6 4
scope=row align=center2021 Oberstdorf165
scope=row align=center2023 Planicaalign=center colspan=4did not participate

FIS Ski Flying World Championships

YearPlaceIndividualTeam
scope=row align=center2010 Planicaalign=center colspan=2 rowspan=2did not participate
scope=row align=center2012 Vikersund
scope=row align=center2014 Harrachovalign=center colspan=2N/A
scope=row align=center2016 Bad Mitterndorfalign=center 4
scope=row align=center2018 Oberstdorf6align=center style="text-align:center"
scope=row align=center2020 Planica4
scope=row align=center2022 Vikersund4align=center
scope=row align=center2024 Bad Mitterndorf26align=center

World Cup results

Standings

 Season Overall
35 41 N/A 10
24 13 36 N/A N/A
15 20 18 N/A N/A
7 8 5 N/A N/A
4 N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
2016–179 14 5 5 N/A
2017–1815 21 8 10 N/A
2018–1929 46 25 12 N/A
2019–208 8 28 7 N/A
scope=row align=center2020–2123 9 15 N/A N/A
scope=row align=center2021–2215 20 4 N/A
scope=row align=center2022–2325 19 49 N/A
scope=row align=center2023–245 18 N/A

Individual wins

No.SeasonDateLocationHillSize
112 January 2014   Kulm HS200
225 January 2014   Ōkurayama HS134
323 March 2014   Bloudkova velikanka HS139 LH
424 January 2015   Sapporo Ōkurayama HS134 LH
514 February 2015   Vikersundbakken HS225 FH
620 March 2015   Planica Letalnica bratov Gorišek HS225 FH
713 December 2015   Tramplin Stork HS134 LH
819 December 2015   Gross-Titlis-Schanze HS137 LH
920 December 2015   Engelberg Gross-Titlis-Schanze HS137 LH
101 January 2016   Große Olympiaschanze HS140 LH
113 January 2016   Bergiselschanze HS130 LH
126 January 2016   Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze HS140 LH
1310 January 2016   Mühlenkopfschanze HS145 LH
1430 January 2016   Sapporo Ōkurayama HS134 LH
1510 February 2016   Granåsen HS140 LH
1613 February 2016   Vikersund Vikersundbakken HS225 FH
1714 February 2016   Vikersund Vikersundbakken HS225 FH
1827 February 2016   Sunkar HS140 LH
1928 February 2016   Almaty Sunkar HS140 LH
2017 March 2016   Planica Letalnica bratov Gorišek HS225 FH
2120 March 2016   Planica Letalnica bratov Gorišek HS225 FH
2211 February 2017   Sapporo Ōkurayama HS137 LH
239 March 2020   Lysgårdsbakken HS140 LH
2422 March 2024   Planica Letalnica bratov Gorišek HS240 FH

Individual starts

Awards and nominations

YearCategoryVoted byResult
2013Slovenian Sportsman of the YearSlovene sports journalists association[36]
2014Slovenian Sportsman of the YearSlovene sports journalists association
2015Slovenian Sportsman of the YearSlovene sports journalists association
2016Athlete of the Month for MarchUnited States Sports Academy[37]
Slovenian Sportsman of the YearSlovene sports journalists association
European Sportsperson of the YearEuropean Alliance of News Agencies16th[38]
Athlete of the YearUnited States Sports Academy3rd[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peter Prevc – Player Profile – Ski Jumping . . 30 March 2021 .
  2. Web site: Dumančič . Mojca . Photo: Peter Prevc – The man in blue . . 30 March 2021 . sl . 5 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Popolno: Rekord in zmaga Prevca, Tepeš drugi!. RTV Slovenia. sl. 17 March 2016.
  4. Web site: Ski Jumping: Prevc breaks record for season wins!. 17 March 2016 . Euronews. 17 March 2016.
  5. News: Mama Petra Prevca: Strah me je! A ne na zaletišču, nekje drugje . . 27 November 2016. sl.
  6. News: Najmlajši od bratov Prevc: O skokih se doma redko pogovarjamo . Siol. Peter. Kastelic . 2 February 2015 . 6 January 2017. sl.
  7. News: Oče Petra Prevca bo v Oslu pod dodatnim drobnogledom . . 20 January 2016 . 27 November 2016. sl. Jaka. Lopatič.
  8. Web site: Biserka. Karneža Cerjak . Družinske korenine: vsi v družini Prevc so se zapisali športu že v otroštvu . reporter.si . 14 March 2019 . sl . 5 February 2017.
  9. Web site: PREVC Peter . sl. gorenjci.si . 14 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181028221526/http://www.gorenjci.si/osebe/prevc-peter/868/. 28 October 2018.
  10. Web site: Gospod inženir, skakalnica je narejena. Delo. sl. 13 May 2015. Simona. Bandur. 14 February 2016.
  11. Web site: Peter Prevc Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417192156/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pr/peter-prevc-1.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . Sports-reference.com . 20 September 1992. 27 November 2016.
  12. Web site: PREVC Peter – Biographie . fis-ski.com . 27 November 2016. International Ski Federation.
  13. Web site: Športnik leta | DŠNS . Dsns.si . 27 November 2016 . sl . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072421/http://dsns.si/sportnik-leta.php . 26 December 2016 .
  14. Web site: Video: Kljub nesrečnemu Prevcu skakalci pisali zgodovino :: Prvi interaktivni multimedijski portal, MMC RTV Slovenija . . 19 February 2012 . 27 November 2016. sl.
  15. Web site: Individual large hill event at FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013. fis-ski.com. International Ski Federation. 28 February 2013.
  16. Web site: Individual normal hill event at FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013. fis-ski.com. International Ski Federation. 23 February 2013.
  17. Web site: Peter Prevc took a clear win in Sapporo. fis-ski.com. International Ski Federation. 25 January 2014.
  18. News: Ski jump: watch Anders Fannemel set the new world record. https://web.archive.org/web/20150216150053/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/skiing/11415244/Ski-jump-watch-Anders-Fannemel-set-the-new-world-record.html . dead . 16 February 2015 . The Daily Telegraph. 16 February 2015.
  19. News: Norišnica v Planici: dvojna zmaga Slovenije, Prevc Freundu diha za ovratnik. Siol. sl. 12 December 2015.
  20. News: Dvojna slovenska zmaga z grenkim priokusom: Tepeš prvi in Prevc drugi, Freundu globus. Bitter double win for Slovenia: Tepeš first, Prevc second and overall title for Freund. Delo. 12 December 2015. sl.
  21. Web site: Zgodovinsko: dvojna zmaga bratov Prevc. RTV Slovenija. sl. 19 December 2015.
  22. News: Slovenija navdušena: kralj Peter šampionsko dokončal delo. RTV Slovenija. 6 January 2016. sl.
  23. News: Prevc z novim rekordom Kulma svetovni prvak!. M.R.. . 16 January 2016 . 27 November 2016. sl.
  24. News: Ljubezen med Prevcem in Vikersundom: Peter slavil kljub padcu. sl. T. O.. S. J.. . 14 February 2016 . 27 November 2016.
  25. Web site: Peter Prevc rekordi sezona smucarski skoki clanek . 20 March 2016 . Z. J. Ljubljana . zurnal24.si . sl.
  26. Web site: Prevc z zmago v Planici podrl se dva rekorda . 17 March 2016 . Planica – AP.
  27. Web site: Prevc: taka sezona se bo težko še kdaj ponovila. RTV Slovenija. sl. 20 March 2016.
  28. Web site: Peter Prevc v lovu na se en rekord in mali kristalni globus . sl . 18 March 2016 . Planica.
  29. News: Video: Po padcu Petra prva zmaga za Domna Prevca. . 25 November 2016 . 8 February 2017. sl. A. V..
  30. News: Peter Prevc. . 17 December 2016. 8 February 2017. sl.
  31. News: Domen Prevc z 8. skočil na 2. mesto, v finalu nesrečen padec Petra. . 17 December 2016 . 8 February 2017. sl. Tilen. Jamnik.
  32. News: Peter Prevc takes a break from ski jumping competition for several days. . 9 January 2017 . 8 February 2017. T. O.. J. B..
  33. News: Peter v Zakopanah že delal, kar ima najraje – skakal daleč. . 26 January 2017 . 8 February 2017. Tilen. Jamnik. sl.
  34. News: Slovenski skakalci 120 točk za stopničkami. . 28 January 2017 . 8 February 2017. sl. T. J.. R. K..
  35. News: Peter Prevc blizu še enega rekorda Mattija Nykänena. . 15 February 2017. 2 March 2017. Slavko. Jerič. sl.
  36. News: Športniki leta Peter Prevc, Tina Trstenjak in slovenski hokejisti. RTV Slovenija. 13 December 2016. 13 December 2016. M. L.. A. V.. sl.
  37. News: Ski Jumper Peter Prevc and Tennis Player Victoria Azarenka Voted Academy Athletes of the Month for March. ussa.edu. 28 December 2016. 18 April 2016.
  38. News: CR7 evropski športnik leta; Prevc na 16. mestu. sl. 28 December 2016. 26 December 2016. M. L.. RTV Slovenija.
  39. News: Phelps, Biles Named Academy's 2016 Male and Female Athletes of the Year. The Sport Digest. 25 January 2017. 25 January 2017.