# Slovenia at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Slovenia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics since the post-Yugoslav era. The Slovenian Olympic Committee (Slovene: Olimpijski Komite Slovenije) sent the nation's largest ever delegation to the Games in Olympic history. A total of 79 athletes, 56 men and 23 women, competed in 10 sports. For the second consecutive time, men's handball was the only team-based sport in which Slovenia had its representation at these Games.
The Slovenian team featured three defending Olympic champions from Sydney: double sculls pair Iztok Čop and Luka Špik, and rifle shooter Rajmond Debevec, who became the first Slovenian to compete in six Olympic Games (including two appearances for Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). Sprinter Merlene Ottey, who granted a dual citizenship in 2002, also set a historic milestone as the first female track and field athlete to participate in seventh Olympics, although she appeared for her native Jamaican team in previous editions. Handball team goalkeeper Beno Lapajne was appointed by the committee to carry the Slovenian flag in the opening ceremony.
Slovenia left Athens with a total of four medals, one silver and bronze, failing to achieve an Olympic gold for the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Unable to defend their Olympic rowing title from the previous Games, Čop and Špik managed to settle only for the silver after losing out to France by two seconds in the men's double sculls. Meanwhile, the remaining medals were awarded to the athletes for the first time in women's judo and sailing.

## Medalists

| Medal | Name | Sport | Event | Date |
| Silver | Iztok Čop Luka Špik | Rowing | Men's double sculls | August 21 |
| Bronze | Urška Žolnir | Judo | Women's 63 kg | August 17 |
| Bronze | Vasilij Žbogar | Sailing | Laser class | August 22 |
| Bronze | Jolanda Čeplak | Athletics | Women's 800 m | August 23 |

## Athletics

Slovenian athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).

### Key

* Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
* Q = Qualified for the next round
* q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
* NR = National record
* N/A = Round not applicable for the event
* Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

### Track & road events

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Boštjan Buč | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:37.29 | 10 | — | — | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Roman Kejžar | Marathon | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2:23:34 | 54 |
| Matic Osovnikar | 100 m | 10.15 NR | 3 Q | 10.26 | 4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Matic Osovnikar | 200 m | 20.57 | 4 Q | 20.47 NR | 4 q | 20.89 | 8 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Matija Šestak | 400 m | 45.88 | 4 q | — | — | 46.54 | 7 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Damjan Zlatnar | 110 m hurdles | 13.66 NR | 7 q | DNS | DNS | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Field events

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Distance | Position | Distance | Position |
| Gregor Cankar | Long jump | 7.32 | 39 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Primož Kozmus | Hammer throw | 78.81 | 5 Q | 78.56 | 6 |
| Rožle Prezelj | High jump | 2.20 | =20 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Igor Primc | Discus throw | 56.33 | 30 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Jure Rovan | Pole vault | 5.50 | 25 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Boštjan Šimunič | Triple jump | 16.07 | 37 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Miroslav Vodovnik | Shot put | 20.04 | 12 q | 19.34 | 11 |
| Peter Zupanc | Javelin throw | 77.34 | 22 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Track & road events

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Alenka Bikar | 200 m | 23.09 | 2 Q | 23.38 | 7 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Jolanda Čeplak | 800 m | 2:00.61 | 1 Q | — | — | 1:58.80 | 2 Q | 1:56.43 | |
| Helena Javornik | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31:06.63 NR | 10 |
| Merlene Ottey | 100 m | 11.14 | 2 Q | 11.24 | 3 Q | 11.21 | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Merlene Ottey | 200 m | 22.72 NR | 3 Q | 23.07 | 4 q | DNF | DNF | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Field events

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Distance | Position | Distance | Position |
| Tina Čarman | Long jump | 5.72 | 36 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Teja Melink | Pole vault | 4.15 | =24 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Canoeing
### Slalom

| Athlete | Event | Preliminary | Preliminary | Preliminary | Preliminary | Preliminary | Preliminary | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Run 1 | Rank | Run 2 | Rank | Total | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Total | Rank |
| Simon Hočevar | Men's C-1 | 104.17 | 9 | 105.18 | 11 | 209.35 | 9 Q | 100.24 | 8 Q | 99.54 | 6 | 199.78 | 6 |
| Uroš Kodelja | Men's K-1 | 102.24 | 19 | 97.99 | 13 | 200.23 | 17 Q | 96.68 | 8 Q | 104.93 | 10 | 201.61 | 10 |
| Nada Mali | Women's K-1 | 165.65 | 19 | 110.83 | 10 | 278.48 | 19 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Sprint

| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Jernej Župančič Regent | K-1 1000 m | 3:32.552 | 7 q | 3:35.050 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify to final; q = Qualify to semifinal

## Cycling
### Road

| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank |
| Andrej Hauptman | Men's road race | 5:41:56 | 5 |
| Uroš Murn | Men's road race | 5:44:13 | 50 |
| Gorazd Štangelj | Men's road race | 5:43:20 | 43 |
| Gorazd Štangelj | Men's time trial | 1:03:45.84 | 35 |
| Tadej Valjavec | Men's road race | 5:41:56 | 26 |

## Handball
### Men's tournament
#### Roster

The following is the Slovenia roster in the men's handball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Head coaches: Tone Tiselj
* No.
* Pos.
* Name
* Date of birth (age)
* Height
* App.
* Goals
* Club
* 1
* GK
* Dušan Podpečan
* (1975-10-12)12 October 1975 (aged 28)
* 1.96 m
* RK Gorenje
* 2
* LB
* Miladin Kozlina
* (1983-02-11)11 February 1983 (aged 21)
* 1.97 m
* RK Celje
* 4
* RB
* Renato Vugrinec
* (1975-06-09)9 June 1975 (aged 29)
* 1.95 m
* RK Celje
* 5
* LW
* Zoran Jovičič
* (1976-11-04)4 November 1976 (aged 27)
* 1.84 m
* RK Prevent
* 6
* LW
* Andrej Kastelic
* (1971-04-06)6 April 1971 (aged 33)
* 1.85 m
* RD Prule 67
* 7
* LW
* Vid Kavtičnik
* (1984-05-24)24 May 1984 (aged 20)
* 1.91 m
* RK Gorenje
* 8
* P
* Marko Oštir
* (1977-06-07)7 June 1977 (aged 27)
* 1.94 m
* RK Gorenje
* 9
* RB
* Jure Natek
* (1982-03-30)30 March 1982 (aged 22)
* 1.93 m
* RK Celje
* 13
* P
* Tomaž Tomšič
* (1972-08-17)17 August 1972 (aged 31)
* 1.91 m
* US Ivry Handball
* 14
* LB
* Siarhei Rutenka
* (1981-08-29)29 August 1981 (aged 22)
* 1.98 m
* RK Celje
* 15
* LB
* Aleš Pajovič
* (1979-01-06)6 January 1979 (aged 25)
* 1.97 m
* BM Ciudad Real
* 16
* GK
* Beno Lapajne
* (1973-06-10)10 June 1973 (aged 31)
* 2.00 m
* RK Gold Club
* 17
* RW
* Matjaž Brumen
* (1982-12-23)23 December 1982 (aged 21)
* 1.90 m
* RK Celje
* 18
* CB
* Uroš Zorman
* (1980-01-09)9 January 1980 (aged 24)
* 1.89 m
* RK Celje
* 20
* RW
* Luka Žvižej
* (1980-12-09)9 December 1980 (aged 23)
* 1.84 m
* FC Barcelona

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Croatia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 146 | 129 | +17 | 10 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Spain | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 154 | 137 | +17 | 8 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | South Korea | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 148 | 148 | 0 | 4 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Russia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 145 | 145 | 0 | 4 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Iceland | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 143 | 158 | −15 | 2 | |
| 6 | Slovenia | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 130 | 149 | −19 | 2 | |
* 1 2 South Korea 35–32 Russia
* 1 2 Iceland 30–25 Slovenia
| 14 August 2004 14:30 | Russia | 28 - 25 | Slovenia | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bord, Buy (FRA) |
| 14 August 2004 14:30 | Kokcharov 9 | (16-13) | 3 players with 4 | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bord, Buy (FRA) |
| 14 August 2004 14:30 | 2× 8× 1× | | 3× 9× | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bord, Buy (FRA) |
| 16 August 2004 11:30 | Slovenia | 26 - 27 | Croatia | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Oie, Togstad (NOR) |
| 16 August 2004 11:30 | Brumen 10 | (10-13) | Vori 8 | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Oie, Togstad (NOR) |
| 16 August 2004 11:30 | 3× 7× 2× | | 3× 7× 1× | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Oie, Togstad (NOR) |
| 18 August 2004 11:30 | Iceland | 30 - 25 | Slovenia | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Baum, Goralczyk (POL) |
| 18 August 2004 11:30 | G. Sigurdsson 7 | (10-10) | Rutenka 10 | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Baum, Goralczyk (POL) |
| 18 August 2004 11:30 | 3× 3× | | 3× 3× | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Baum, Goralczyk (POL) |
| 20 August 2004 11:30 | Spain | 41 - 28 | Slovenia | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER) |
| 20 August 2004 11:30 | Romero 7 | (18-15) | Tomšič, Pajovič 7 | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER) |
| 20 August 2004 11:30 | 2× 3× | | 4× 3× | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER) |
| 22 August 2004 09:30 | Slovenia | 26 - 23 | South Korea | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Hassan, Aly (EGY) |
| 22 August 2004 09:30 | Rutenka 7 | (12-11) | Lee J 6 | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Hassan, Aly (EGY) |
| 22 August 2004 09:30 | 4× 8× 1× | | 3× 2× | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Hassan, Aly (EGY) |

#### Classification match (11th–12th place)

| 24 August 2004 09:30 | Slovenia | 30 - 24 | Egypt | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 24 August 2004 09:30 | Brumen, Zvizej 6 | (11-13) | Yosry 6 | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 24 August 2004 09:30 | 1× 7× 1× | | 1× 5× | Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |

## Judo

Five Slovenian judoka (one men and four women) qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Repechage 3 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Sašo Jereb | −73 kg | Malekmohammadi (IRI) L 0010–1000 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Repechage 3 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Petra Nareks | −52 kg | Souakri (ALG) L 0001–0010 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Urška Žolnir | −63 kg | Bye | González (CUB) W 0010–0001 | Vandecaveye (BEL) W 1020–0000 | Heill (AUT) L 0111–1000 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Chisholm (CAN) W 0100–0010 | |
| Raša Sraka | −70 kg | Bye | Ueno (JPN) L 0001–0012 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Schutz (USA) W 0010–0000 | Jacques (BEL) L 0000–0200 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Lucija Polavder | +78 kg | Köppen (GER) L 0000–1010 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Rowing

Slovenian rowers qualified the following boats:

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Repechage | Repechage | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Davor Mizerit | Single sculls | 7:24.60 | 3 R | 7:01.31 | 1 SA/B/C | 7:04.07 | 3 FB | 6:55.64 | 9 |
| Andrej Hrabar Matija Pavšič | Pair | 7:05.36 | 5 R | 6:30.89 | 3 SA/B | 6:46.12 | 5 FB | 6:27.11 | 9 |
| Iztok Čop Luka Špik | Double sculls | 6:45.26 | 1 SA/B | Bye | Bye | 6:11.96 | 1 FA | 6:31.72 | |
| Janez Klemenčič Miha Pirih Tomaž Pirih Gregor Sračnjek | Four | 6:25.36 | 3 SA/B | Bye | Bye | 5:55.53 | 4 FB | 5:50.59 | 9 |
Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; R=Repechage

## Sailing

Slovenian sailors have qualified one boat for each of the following events.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Net points | Final rank |
| Athlete | Event | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | M* | Net points | Final rank |
| Gašper Vinčec | Finn | 4 | 24 | 14 | 19 | DNF | 19 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 151 | 20 |
| Tomaž Čopi Davor Glavina | 470 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 8 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 126 | 14 |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Net points | Final rank |
| Athlete | Event | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | M* | Net points | Final rank |
| Vesna Dekleva Klara Maučec | 470 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 65 | 4 |

### Open

| Athlete | Event | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Net points | Final rank |
| Athlete | Event | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | M* | Net points | Final rank |
| Vasilij Žbogar | Laser | 21 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 76 | |
M = Medal race; OCS = On course side of the starting line; DSQ = Disqualified; DNF = Did not finish; DNS= Did not start; RDG = Redress given

## Shooting

One Slovenian shooter qualified to compete in the following events:

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank |
| Rajmond Debevec | 10 m air rifle | 589 | =29 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Rajmond Debevec | 50 m rifle prone | 594 | =9 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Rajmond Debevec | 50 m rifle 3 positions | 1166 | 5 Q | 1262.6 | 4 |

## Swimming

Slovenian swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the A-standard time, and 1 at the B-standard time):

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Peter Mankoč | 50 m freestyle | DNS | DNS | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Peter Mankoč | 100 m freestyle | 49.54 | 10 Q | 49.71 | 13 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Peter Mankoč | 200 m freestyle | 1:50.72 | 22 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Peter Mankoč | 100 m butterfly | 54.14 | 29 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Peter Mankoč | 200 m individual medley | DNS | DNS | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Blaž Medvešek | 200 m backstroke | 2:01.13 | 15 Q | 1:59.37 | 7 Q | 2:00.06 NR | 8 |
| Marko Milenkovič | 400 m individual medley | 4:30.99 | 31 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Emil Tahirovič | 100 m breaststroke | 1:02.12 | 17 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Emil Tahirovič | 200 m breaststroke | 2:18.65 | 36 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Bojan Zdešar | 400 m freestyle | 3:59.38 | 31 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Bojan Zdešar | 1500 m freestyle | 15:31.57 | 20 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Jernej Godec Peter Mankoč Blaž Medvešek Emil Tahirovič | 4 × 100 m medley relay | 3:44.17 | 14 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Anja Čarman | 400 m freestyle | 4:17.79 | 24 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anja Čarman | 800 m freestyle | DNS | DNS | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anja Čarman | 200 m backstroke | 2:17.62 | 23 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Sara Isaković | 50 m freestyle | 26.81 | 36 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Sara Isaković | 100 m freestyle | 56.67 | =26 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Sara Isaković | 200 m freestyle | 2:01.71 | 18 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Alenka Kejžar | 200 m backstroke | DNS | DNS | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Alenka Kejžar | 200 m breaststroke | 2:32.64 | 18 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Alenka Kejžar | 200 m individual medley | 2:18.60 | 18 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anja Klinar | 200 m butterfly | 2:18.15 | 28 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anja Klinar | 400 m individual medley | 4:46.66 | 13 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Lavra Babič Anja Čarman Sara Isaković Anja Klinar | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay | 8:16.89 | 16 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Tennis

Slovenia nominated four female tennis players to compete in the tournament.
| Athlete | Event | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| Maja Matevžič | Women's singles | Obata (JPN) W 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 7–5 | Williams (USA) L 0–6, 0–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Tina Pisnik | Women's singles | Black (ZIM) L 3–7, 7–5, 4–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Katarina Srebotnik | Women's singles | Sánchez (ESP) W 6–3, 0–6, 6–4 | Molik (AUS) L 5–7, 4–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Tina Križan Katarina Srebotnik | Women's doubles | — | Dechy / Testud (FRA) L 5–7, 3–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Maja Matevžič Tina Pisnik | Women's doubles | — | Yan Z / Zheng J (CHN) L 1–6, 2–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |