Slovenia at the 2006 Winter Olympics
# Slovenia at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Slovenia competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

## Alpine skiing

Entering the Games, no Slovenian man was ranked in the top 20 of the World Cup standings in any alpine event, but they achieved several top-20 finishes in Turin, with the best a 12th place in the giant slalom from Mitja Valenčič. On the women's side, Tina Maze was ranked 5th in GS, but the top showing came from her team-mate Ana Drev, who posted one of the strongest second runs to end up 9th.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Run 1 | Run 2 | Run 3 | Total | Rank |
| Aleš Gorza | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:33.77 | 33 |
| Aleš Gorza | Giant slalom | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |
| Aleš Gorza | Slalom | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |
| Aleš Gorza | Combined | 1:41.31 | 46.44 | 45.16 | 3:12.91 | 15 |
| Drago Grubelnik | Slalom | 54.87 | 50.82 | n/a | 1:45.69 | 13 |
| Andrej Jerman | Downhill | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:51.70 | 28 |
| Andrej Jerman | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:33.20 | 28 |
| Andrej Jerman | Combined | 1:40.62 | 46.91 | 46.27 | 3:13.80 | 19 |
| Andrej Šporn | Downhill | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:52.17 | 31 |
| Andrej Šporn | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:31.84 | 15 |
| Andrej Šporn | Combined | 1:39.67 | 46.20 | 57.66 | 3:23.53 | 30 |
| Bernard Vajdič | Giant slalom | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |
| Bernard Vajdič | Slalom | 55.16 | 51.27 | n/a | 1:46.43 | 19 |
| Mitja Valenčič | Giant slalom | 1:18.10 | 1:19.29 | n/a | 2:37.39 | 12 |
| Mitja Valenčič | Slalom | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Run 1 | Run 2 | Run 3 | Total | Rank |
| Ana Drev | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:37.92 | 45 |
| Ana Drev | Giant slalom | 1:02.45 | 1:09.22 | n/a | 2:11.67 | 9 |
| Ana Kobal | Slalom | 44.36 | 48.53 | n/a | 1:32.89 | 25 |
| Tina Maze | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:36.64 | 39 |
| Tina Maze | Giant slalom | 1:01.97 | 1:09.86 | n/a | 2:11.83 | 12 |
| Urška Rabič | Downhill | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |
| Urška Rabič | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:34.12 | 18 |
| Urška Rabič | Combined | 40.61 | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |
| Petra Robnik | Downhill | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:59.66 | 25 |
| Petra Robnik | Super-G | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1:35.10 | 29 |
| Petra Robnik | Combined | 40.54 | 44.84 | 1:32.02 | 2:57.40 | 21 |

## Biathlon

The Slovenian flagbearer, Tadeja Brankovič, contributed to the biathlon team's top finish in Turin, the 6th place earned by the women's relay. Teja Gregorin was the best individual performer, placing in the top-20 in all of her races. The best performance in the relay, however, came from neither Brankovič nor Gregorin, but from Dijana Grudiček, who pulled the team up as high as 5th.

| Athlete | Event | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Misses | Rank |
| Klemen Bauer | Men's sprint | 30:09.3 | 2 | 70 |
| Klemen Bauer | Men's individual | 1:02:25.5 | 5 | 60 |
| Tadeja Brankovič | Women's sprint | 24:14.1 | 2 | 31 |
| Tadeja Brankovič | Women's pursuit | 42:42.12 | 7 | 31 |
| Tadeja Brankovič | Women's individual | 55:38.9 | 6 | 39 |
| Teja Gregorin | Women's sprint | 23:31.2 | 0 | 14 |
| Teja Gregorin | Women's pursuit | 40:20.16 | 2 | 16 |
| Teja Gregorin | Women's mass start | 43:51.4 | 4 | 19 |
| Teja Gregorin | Women's individual | 53:03.7 | 3 | 18 |
| Dijana Grudiček | Women's sprint | 25:28.6 | 3 | 55 |
| Dijana Grudiček | Women's pursuit | Lapped | Lapped | Lapped |
| Dijana Grudiček | Women's individual | 55:01.3 | 4 | 30 |
| Andreja Mali | Women's sprint | 26:02.5 | 3 | 59 |
| Andreja Mali | Women's pursuit | Lapped | Lapped | Lapped |
| Andreja Mali | Women's individual | 53:46.0 | 1 | 21 |
| Janez Marič | Men's sprint | 28:28.6 | 3 | 37 |
| Janez Marič | Men's pursuit | 39:42.43 | 7 | 37 |
| Janez Marič | Men's individual | 59:53.0 | 5 | 40 |
| Janez Ožbolt | Men's sprint | 30:08.8 | 2 | 69 |
| Janez Ožbolt | Men's individual | 1:03:18.5 | 5 | 69 |
| Matjaž Poklukar | Men's sprint | 30:00.6 | 3 | 64 |
| Matjaž Poklukar | Men's individual | 1:00:07.6 | 3 | 47 |
| Janez Marič Janez Ožbolt Klemen Bauer Matjaž Poklukar | Men's relay | 1:25:01.4 | 11 | 10 |
| Teja Gregorin Andreja Mali Dijana Grudiček Tadeja Brankovič | Women's relay | 1:19:55.7 | 12 | 6 |

## Cross-country skiing

Petra Majdič was Slovenia's top cross-country skier in Turin, finishing 6th in the women's 10 km, and the only skier to proceed out of the qualifying rounds in the sprint. Majdič advanced to the semifinals, but placed 4th in her semi and in the B Final en route to an 8th place finish.

### Distance

| Athlete | Event | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Total | Rank |
| Maja Benedičič | Women's 10 km classical | 33:41.3 | 65 |
| Maja Benedičič | Women's 15 km pursuit | 46:51.1 | 39 |
| Maja Benedičič | Women's 30 km freestyle | Did not finish | Did not finish |
| Nejc Brodar | Men's 30 km pursuit | 1:22:23.9 | 45 |
| Nejc Brodar | Men's 50 km freestyle | 2:07:24.5 | 31 |
| Petra Majdič | Women's 10 km classical | 28:22.3 | 6 |
| Petra Majdič | Women's 15 km pursuit | 43:41.7 | 11 |
| Petra Majdič | Women's 30 km freestyle | 1:25:22.5 | 14 |
| Jože Mehle | Men's 15 km classical | 42:56.9 | 59 |
| Jože Mehle | Men's 30 km pursuit | 1:24:13.6 | 55 |
| Jože Mehle | Men's 50 km freestyle | 2:13:37.1 | 55 |

### Sprint

| Athlete | Event | Qualifying | Qualifying | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Total | Rank | Total | Rank | Total | Rank | Total | Rank |
| Nejc Brodar | Men's sprint | 2:21.94 | 39 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 39 |
| Vesna Fabjan | Women's sprint | 2:20.34 | 40 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 40 |
| Petra Majdič | Women's sprint | 2:14.62 | 6 Q | 2:17.7 | 2 Q | 2:18.72 | 4 | Final B 2:21.5 | 8 |
| Jože Mehle | Men's sprint | 2:27.02 | 56 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 56 |
| Nejc Brodar Jože Mehle | Men's team sprint | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 18:34.4 | 8 | Did not advance | 16 |
| Maja Benedičič Vesna Fabjan | Women's team sprint | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 18:59.5 | 7 | Did not advance | 14 |

## Figure skating

Urbas, who had placed 17th at the most recent European Championships, was second-to-last after the short program, and did not advance to compete in the free skate.

| Athlete | Event | CD | CD | SP/OD | SP/OD | FS/FD | FS/FD | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | Rank |
| Gregor Urbas | Men's | n/a | n/a | 46.48 | 29 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 29 |

Key: CD = Compulsory Dance, FD = Free Dance, FS = Free Skate, OD = Original Dance, SP = Short Program

## Freestyle skiing

Miha Gale was scheduled to compete, but pulled out after an injury in training, leaving Nina Bednarik as the only Slovenian freestyle skier competing in Turin.

| Athlete | Event | Qualifying | Qualifying | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank |
| Nina Bednarik | Women's moguls | 19.54 | 24 | did not advance | 24 |
| Miha Gale | Men's aerials | did not start | did not start | did not start | did not start |

## Luge

Domen Pociecha was the only Slovenian lugist in Turin. He was one of the weaker starters, but nonetheless managed to finish 26th, ahead of 10 other competitors.

| Athlete | Event | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Run 1 | Run 2 | Run 3 | Run 4 | Total | Rank |
| Domen Pociecha | Men's singles | 53.141 | 53.073 | 53.039 | 53.072 | 3:32.325 | 26 |

## Nordic combined

Damjan Vtič competed in two events as the sole Slovenian Nordic combined athlete in Turin; his best finish was 34th in the sprint.

| Athlete | Event | Ski jumping | Ski jumping | Cross-country | Cross-country | Cross-country |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Deficit | Time | Rank |
| Damjan Vtič | Sprint | 107.8 | 17 | 1:12 | 20:35.9 +2:06.9 | 34 |
| Damjan Vtič | Individual Gundersen | 217.0 | 23 | 3:02 | 45:36.9 +5:52.3 | 40 |

Note: 'Deficit' refers to the amount of time behind the leader a competitor began the cross-country portion of the event. Italicized numbers show the final deficit from the winner's finishing time.

## Ski jumping

Slovenia was the defending Olympic and World bronze medalists in the team event, but struggled in Turin, finishing tenth, and not qualifying for the second round of jumps. Rok Benkovič, who was the defending world champion, in the normal hill event, had a very poor first jump in the final, ending up 49th. The best individual performance came from Jernej Damjan, who was 28th in the large hill event.

| Athlete | Event | Qualifying | Qualifying | First round | First round | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | Total | Rank |
| Rok Benkovič | Normal hill | 108.0 | 28 Q | 91.5 | 49 | did not advance | did not advance | 49 |
| Rok Benkovič | Large hill | 84.5 | 26 Q | 99.9 | 22 Q | 90.4 | 190.3 | 29 |
| Jernej Damjan | Normal hill | 114.5 | 21 Q | 109.0 | 35 | did not advance | did not advance | 35 |
| Jernej Damjan | Large hill | 105.9 | 7 Q | 97.2 | 27 Q | 95.0 | 192.2 | 28 |
| Robert Kranjec | Normal hill | 102.0 | 14 PQ | 105.5 | 41 | did not advance | did not advance | 41 |
| Robert Kranjec | Large hill | 106.7 | 13 Q | 63.1 | 49 | did not advance | did not advance | 49 |
| Primož Peterka | Normal hill | 117.0 | 16 Q | 118.5 | 23 Q | 96.5 | 215.0 | 30 |
| Primož Peterka | Large hill | 93.1 | 14 Q | 92.0 | 34 | did not advance | did not advance | 34 |
| Rok Benkovič Jernej Damjan Robert Kranjec Primož Peterka | Team | n/a | n/a | 390.4 | 10 | did not advance | did not advance | 10 |

Note: PQ indicates a skier was pre-qualified for the final, based on entry rankings.

## Snowboarding

Four snowboarders represented Slovenia in Turin, all in the parallel giant slalom. Two, Rok Flander and Dejan Kosir, qualified for the knockout stages, and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to a Schoch brother, Flander to Philipp and Kosir to Simon. The two ended up 7th and 6th, respectively, after each faced two other Swiss racers in the consolation rounds.

### Parallel GS

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Opposition Time | Opposition Time | Opposition Time | Opposition Time | Rank |
| Rok Flander | Men's parallel giant slalom | 1:11.18 | 10 Q | Huet (FRA) (7) W -0.53 (-1.35 +0.82) | Schoch (SUI) (2) L +1.07 (+1.35 -0.28) | Classification 5-8 Inniger (SUI) (3) L +0.14 (-0.18 +0.32) | 7th place Final Jacquet (SUI) (5) W -0.41 (-0.12 -0.29) | 7 |
| Tomaž Knafelj | Men's parallel giant slalom | 1:14.87 | 26 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 26 |
| Dejan Kosir | Men's parallel giant slalom | 1:11.06 | 8 Q | Jewell (USA) (1) W -0.30 (+0.29 -0.59) | Schoch (SUI) (1) L +1.27 (+0.59 +0.68) | Classification 5-8 Jacquet (SUI) (5) W -4.55 (-0.85 +5.40) | 5th place Final Inniger (SUI) (3) L +0.42 (+0.94 -0.52) | 6 |
| Izidor Šušteršič | Men's parallel giant slalom | 1:12.96 | 21 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 21 |

Key: '+ Time' represents a deficit; the brackets indicate the results of each run.

