Janica Kostelić

Janica Kostelić (born January 5, 1982) is the most successful Croatian skier and one of the greatest female skiers in history. She won a total of four gold and two silver Olympic medals, making her the most decorated female alpine skier at the Winter Olympics.

At the FIS Alpine World Championships, she claimed five gold medals, while in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, she won the Overall Crystal Globe three times (2001, 2003, 2006) and the Slalom Crystal Globe three times. Over her career, she achieved 30 World Cup victories and 55 podium finishes.

Beyond her sporting achievements, Janica was awarded the prestigious Laureus World Sports Award for Best Sportswoman in 2006 and received numerous Croatian honors, including the Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport. She was also named Fair Play Ambassador, became a member of the Laureus Sports Academy, and participated in various humanitarian projects.

After retiring from competitive skiing in 2007, she briefly served as Assistant Minister of Sports in 2016. Her family’s inspiring story was featured in several documentaries, including the award-winning “Dnevnik pobjednika” (2002) and “Gnothi Seauton” (2015).

Janica Kostelić remains a symbol of sporting excellence and perseverance, with her achievements leaving a lasting legacy in Croatian and world skiing history.

_{Photo: Neja Markičević / CROPIX}