Eva Terčelj and Žiga Lin Hočevar Slovenian paddlers of the year
12.1.2025
Canoe slalom paddlers Eva Terčelj and Žiga Lin Hočevar were named the best Slovenian paddlers of the year 2024. It was another season to remember for Canoe Federation of Slovenia, namely, a total of 29 athletes reached the podium in the season 2024 at World and European Championships across various age groups: Senior, U23, and Junior, as well as at the World Cups.
Žiga Lin Hočevar was named the best athlete of the year in 2024. The 17-year-old from Ljubljana had an exceptional season. It was only his second year of eligibility to compete at the highest level, but he quickly made a name for himself. He won individual and team European Championships gold medal in Tacen, even before turning 17. He followed this up with his first World Cup victory in Augsburg and second place in the men’s C1 overall World Cup standings. He also excelled at the Junior and U23 World and European Championships, winning World Champion titles in both kayak and canoe, placing second in kayak cross, and earning an U23 team medal. At the European Championships, he claimed four medals: junior European champion title in canoe, silver in kayak, bronze in kayak cross, and U23 European team champion title in canoe. Žiga Lin Hočevar was also named the best wildwater athlete and Junior Athlete of the Year, maintaining his title as the best competitor under 18, which he earned the previous year.
The female athlete of the Year award went to Eva Terčelj for the sixth time. She had previously won this honour in 2011, 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Eva won a gold medal in the women’s kayak team event at the European Championships on her home course, repeating her success from 2017 when the Slovenian women’s kayak team also became European champions. She followed up with a World Cup victory in Augsburg, where she took her first-ever gold in kayak cross, and she also won silver and bronze medals in slalom at La Seu d'Urgell and Ivrea.
The best female athletes in canoe sprint were Anja Osterman and Mia Medved. They won a silver medal in the women's kayak double at the Canoe Sprint European Championships in Szeged, and they were also part of the mixed K4 crew that placed fourth at the World Championships in Uzbekistan.
The best male canoe sprint athlete was Anže Urankar. The athlete from Ljubljana had an outstanding season both in wildwater and flatwater competitions. He defended his World Champion title in wildwater sprint canoeing, both individually and in the team event, and also had a strong performance in canoe sprint events. He placed fourth in the mixed K4 at the World Championships in Uzbekistan, fifth in the 200 meters, sixth in the European Championships in the same distance, and seventh in the European Championships in the K2.
Naja Pinterič was once again named the best junior athlete of the year. She became the World Champion in kayak cross at the Junior World Championships in Liptovský Mikuláš, and she earned a bronze in individual kayak cross at the Junior European Championships. She also won a bronze in the team event at Junior European Championships.
The best coach of the year was Maks Frančeškin, coach of the Slovenian wildwater team, for the second year in a row. His athletes - Anže Urankar, Simon Oven, and Ana Šteblaj - brought home medals from the World Championships in Spain.
In addition to the main awards, all the athletes who won medals at major international competitions in the year 2024 received special recognition. Peter Gale received a bronze plaque to honour his volunteer work and help in the organisation of the major canoeing competitions in Ljubljana – Tacen.
Only a day later Žiga Lin Hočevar received another award. At the Slovenian athlete of the year ceremony he received an award for the most promising Slovenian Young athlete of the year, where he succeeded football player Benjamin Šeško. The award for the most promising young sports personality was determined by a vote of the members of the Sports Journalists Association of Slovenia.
AWARDS – Slovenian paddler of the year
Athlete of the year and the best female wildwater competitior: Eva Terčelj
Athlete of the year and the best male wildwater competitior: Žiga Lin Hočevar
Athlete of the year and the best female flatwater competitior: Anja Osterman and Mia Medved
Athlete of the year and the best male flatwater competitior: Anže Urankar
12.1.2025
