Smallest Slovenian Olympic team of millennium

The smallest number of passengers in this millennium

30. junij 2016 ob 12.53 • Ljubljana - MMC RTV SLO

The actual World and European Champion Tina Trstenjak will be one of the Slovenia's most effective weapons in the battle for medals. Foto: EPA

The official list of athletes representing Slovenia at the Olympic Games in Rio will be announced on July 12. For 56 of the athletes their participation in Brazil is almost assured, for nine it is still pending, as explained in the text below.

The male handball team will be the most numerous; they are entitled to 14 players. The selector Veselin Vujović has announced an extended list of 19 names; five names will be crossed out during preparations.
European Championship crucial for Maruša Mišmaš
Nine athletes have satisfied the requirements in athletics: Luka Janežič, Žan Rudolf, Robert Renner, Maja Mihalinec, Sabina Veit, Daneja Grandovec, Maruša Černjul, Tina Šutej and Martina Ratej, while Maruša Mišmaš and Anton Kosmač still need to confirm the last year's norm. The last opportunity for achieving that goal will be at the European Championship, starting on July 6.
Three swimmers are waiting for an invitation
The participation of Anja Klinar, Tjaša Oder, Janja Šegel, Tjaša Pintar, Špela Bohinc, Damir Dugonjić and Anže Tavčar is certain, while Tjaša Vozel, Martin Bau and Robert Žbogar are still waiting for an invitation by the International Swimming Association, since they had achieved the standards set by the National Olympic Committee of Slovenia, but failed to achieve qualifying standards set by the International Olympic Committee.
... as well as a wrestler and two female tennis players
The wrestler Jure Kuhar and the tennis players Polona Hercog and Andreja Klepač are also hoping for an invitation; the latter pair would play doubles in Rio. The mountain biker Blaža Klemenčič is also on the official waiting list due to the ongoing procedure for anti-doping rules violation at the International Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Roglič in time trial; which cylists in road race?
Slovenia qualified for a maximum of four quota places in the men's Olympic road race. The selector will choose the participants on July 11, Grega Bole, Jani Brajkovič, Matej Mohorič, Luka Pibernik, Jan Polanec and Simon Špilak being on the selector’s expanded list. Primož Roglič will compete in time trial, and Polona Batagelj in female road race.
On July 12 the following athletes will turn from candidates into passengers to Rio: Teja Belak (gymnastics), Vasilij Žbogar, Tina Mrak and Veronika Macarol (sailing), Tina Trstenjak, Anamari Velenšek, Rok Drakšič, Mihael Žgank and Adrian Gomboc (judo), Peter Kauzer, Benjamin Savšek, Luka Božič, Sašo Taljat and Urša Kragelj (kayak-whitewater canoeing), Špela Ponomarenko Janič (sprint kayaking), Tanja Žakelj (mountain biking), Bojan Tokić (table tennis), Špela Perše (long distance swimming), Boštjan Maček and Živa Dvoršak (shooting) and Mateja Šimic (triathlon).
Athens hosted the largest number of Slovenian athletes
In spite of the fact that the handball team qualified for the Olympic games, the number of participants from Slovenia will most likely be the smallest of the millennium. In 2012 65 athletes went to London, in 2008 in Peking there were 62 athletes, in 2004 in Athens 79, in 2000 in Sydney 74, in 1996 in Atlanta 37, and in 1992 in Barcelona 35.