Croatia year 2011 Winter Sport Ivica Kostelic – Winner World Ski Championship

Croatia year 2011 Winter Sport Ivica Kostelic – Winner World Ski Championship

Ivica Kostelić is a retired Croatian alpine skier who is widely regarded as one of the greatest ski racers in Croatian and international skiing history. Born on November 23, 1979, in Zagreb, Croatia, Kostelić comes from a family deeply involved in skiing, with his father, Ante Kostelić, being a former ski coach and his sister, Janica Kostelić, being a highly successful alpine skier as well.

Here are some key points about Ivica Kostelić’s career and achievements:

Alpine Skiing Career: Kostelić specialized in the technical disciplines of slalom and giant slalom but also competed in super-G and combined events. He made his World Cup debut in 1998 at the age of 18.

Olympic Success: Kostelić has competed in multiple Winter Olympic Games, earning considerable success. He won his first Olympic medal, a silver in the combined event, at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. He then followed up with three silver medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, in the slalom, giant slalom, and super combined events.

World Championships: Kostelić has also achieved success at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. He won a gold medal in the combined event at the 2003 World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and a silver medal in the same event at the 2005 World Championships in Bormio, Italy.

Overall World Cup Titles: Kostelić had his most successful World Cup season in 2011 when he won the overall World Cup title. He also won the combined discipline title that year. He finished second in the overall World Cup standings three times (2002, 2003, and 2012).

Injuries and Comebacks: Throughout his career, Kostelić faced numerous injuries, including knee injuries, which often required surgery and rehabilitation. Despite these setbacks, he demonstrated remarkable resilience and made several comebacks to the sport.

Retirement: Kostelić officially retired from competitive skiing in 2017 after a highly successful career spanning nearly two decades. He transitioned to other pursuits, including coaching and sports commentary.