Ivica Kostelić

Ivica Kostelic [ iʋitsa kɔstɛlitɕ ] ( born November 23, 1979 in Zagreb) is a Croatian alpine skier. Was he at first mainly in the slalom successfully, he has evolved over the years to become an all-rounder who starts in all disciplines. His greatest successes so far are winning the overall World Cup in season 2010/11 and the slalom world title 2003. Added to four silver medals at the Winter Olympics, one further silver and bronze medals at World Championships and five victories in World Cup discipline ratings. He is the older brother of the former alpine skier Janica Kostelic.

• 2.1 The Olympic Games
• 2.2 World Championships
• 2.3 Junior World Championships
• 2.4 World Cup ratings
• 2.5 World Cup wins
• 2.6 Further successes

Biography

Rise

The siblings Kostelic grew up in modest circumstances. Father Ante Kostelic, a former handball player and coach promoted, intense sports careers of his children Ivica and Janica. Lack of money and the fact that Croatia is not a typical winter sports country, led to the use of unorthodox training methods. Often, the family stayed even in the winter in tents or in the car and climbed the slopes on foot, as they hotel stays and ski lift tickets could not afford. Objective was the systematic introduction to the world's best. The training program followed scientific approaches that were developed by the Soviet weightlifters and sports scientist Alexei Medvedev.

From December 1994 stepped up to Kostelic FIS race, the first missions in the European Cup was followed in December 1995. A year later, in a well-staffed Junior race in Sesto he achieved his first victory. At the Junior World Championships 1997 in Schladming, he won the bronze medal in the combined score, which was composed of the sum of the results of Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom. Kostelic improved in FIS races resistant and the Croatian Olympic Committee nominated him for the Olympic Winter Games 1998. Yet a few days before departure, he suffered a patella fracture, so he had to end the season prematurely.

His debut in the World Cup had Kostelic on 25 October 1998 on the Rettenbachferner in Sölden, but could not qualify for the second run itself. Then he denied Nor- Am race in North America, where he won a downhill in Lake Louise. During training, the departure of the 1999 World Cup in Beaver Creek he pulled a torn ACL to his left knee. The following season, he had to end early, this time because of a torn ACL on his right knee. On 11 December 2000 he took the 21st place in the slalom in Sestriere, the first World Cup points, but a new knee injury two weeks later saw again for a premature end of the season.

Breakthrough

Quite surprisingly won Kostelic on November 25, 2001 the World Cup slalom in Aspen, with the high start number 64 This was the second highest winning number in the World Cup, according to the numbers 66 of Liechtensteiners Markus Foser and the Slovenian Katja Koren (both in 1993 ). At the same time, the 64 is still the highest starting number, with the World Cup slalom was won each one. This was followed by victories in Wengen and Flachau and three other podium finishes. This was enough for winning the World Cup in slalom discipline rating. At the Olympic Winter Games in 2002 in the giant slalom Kostelic drove to ninth place in the slalom and had suffered a loss (after the fourth best time in the first round ). He was elected to the Croatian Sportsman of the Year in 2002, sister Janica Athlete of the Year and father Ante coach of the year.

In the season 2002/ 03 Kostelic drove continue at a high level. He won the slalom in Sestriere, Kranjska Gora and Bormio; added was a third place in Wengen. In the slalom discipline standings, he was beaten four times winner of the season Kalle Palander from Finland. At the 2003 World Championships he won the gold medal in the slalom, a day after his sister had been in the same discipline world champion. In January 2003, the Croatian magazine Nacional reported on various National Socialism and the Third Reich glorifying statements Kostelićs which he had made ​​public in various interviews. The article sparked international headlines and Kostelic put under strong pressure. He distanced himself from the statements Finally, the Nacional, however, accused to have torn his statements out of context.

Ups and downs

Kostelic played in the season 2003/ 04 increased Downhill and Super -G race to develop an all-rounder. In slalom, but he still had the best results by far, with a win in Madonna di Campiglio and a third place in Wengen. On the second pass of the night slalom in Schladming end of January he moved to another torn ACL in his right knee, he fell again for the rest of the season. In the winter of 2004/ 05 he had first great effort to get back into the port. Again, he focused on the technical disciplines. Because he either retired the first seven races or the second passage missed, he took no first World Cup points. Finally, however, he scored two podium finishes in the slalom in Wengen and Kitzbuehel.

Traversed was the season 2005/06. In the World Cup resulted in a fourth place finish in the slalom at Åre best result, but Kostelic has experienced several failures. His best performance of the season he showed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where he behind the American Ted Ligety won the silver medal in the combination. This result was rather surprising since he had been in this discipline previously never been better than ninth. In December 2006, Kostelic succeeded after almost three years a World Cup victory, when he decided the Super Combined at the Reiteralm for themselves. The further course of the winter 2006/ 07 was characterized by rather average results and failures.

Development of an all-rounder and overall World Cup winner

Kostelic, so far mainly a specialist in Slalom race, diversified his training and entered in the 2007/ 08 season for the first time in all disciplines. Although he succeeded no victory, but he was second four times and third twice. In the discipline ratings slalom and combined, he finished each ranked second in the overall standings he finished sixth. Similarly successful was initially also the season 2008/ 09 with a slalom win in Alta Badia and five other podium finishes, including the first in a giant slalom. Prior to the 2009 World Cup Kostelic led the overall World Cup standings and thus belonged to the narrowest circle of favorites. However, it did in Val d'Isere incur no World Cup races due to sudden acute back pain. After a two week break, he returned to the World Cup. In the overall standings, he slipped to fourth place, but still was his best year performance.

In the 2009/10 season was won by Kostelic both the slalom in Wengen and the famous Hahnenkamm combination of Kitzbühel. He also scored three podiums, including for the first time in the discipline 's Super-G. At the season's peak, the 2010 Winter Olympics, he won two silver medals in the super combined and the slalom. At the end of the season he finished fifth final rank in the overall World Cup standings.

The 2010/11 season was the most successful for Kostelic. In January 2011, he had a unrivaled winning streak. In 14 races he was seven top spot on the podium and scored within one calendar month 999 World Cup points: He won the inaugural City event in Munich, the slalom in Adelboden and Wengen, the combinations of Wengen, Kitzbühel, Chamonix and the super - G from Kitzbuehel (his first victory in a speed race). With the victory in Chamonix Kostelic secured an early winning the Combined World Cup standings. In the overall standings, he built his lead to over 450 points.

At the first race of the World Cup 2011, the Super -G on February 9, Kostelic won the bronze medal. On the same day he announced that he would not be standing for Downhill and Super Combined ( in which he was one of the most mentioned favorite ) because he wanted to save his strength. In addition, he expressed sharp criticism of the strong icy Kandahar route. After the departure of Kvitfjell 12 March 2011 Kostelic had already decided five races left in the season as the winner of the overall World Cup of the season 2010/11, since his points lead was no longer obtain. Although the slalom in Lenzerheide, the last individual race of the season, had no points, he exhibited for the second time winning the slalom overall World Cup safe because his nearest challenger Jean -Baptiste Grange retired. From the International Association of Ski Journalists he was honored in the same year with the Skieur d'Or.

Further development

In the 2011/12 season Kostelic was initially build on the successes of the previous season in the World Cup. He won two slaloms in December, in January in Wengen super combined and the slalom. With the victory in the classic Hahnenkamm combination ( for the third time in succession, for which he was awarded the Hahnenkamm gold pin with diamonds ), he took the lead in the overall World Cup. In Krasnaya Polyana he won on February 12, again the super combined and thus secured the victory in the World Cup combined score. In this race he was injured but on his right knee. He had to undergo an operation in which a torn portion of the meniscus was removed. Then had to miss four weeks, so he had no chance of overall victory more Kostelic. However, he still had the ability to slalom rating to decide for themselves. At the World Cup finals in Schladming, it remained without points and Andre Myhrer could go by him.

The Knee injury disabilities Kostelic still early in the season 2012/13. Only in January, he could almost reach the level of previous years again. This month he scored three podium finishes, including a victory in the combination of Kitzbühel. In the combination discipline standings he finished tied with Alexis Pinturault the first place. At the World Championships 2013 in Schladming, he won the silver medal in the super combined. Towards the end of the season he won the World Cup slalom in Kranjska Gora. During the 2013/14 season Kostelic not found the form of past years and binned only twice in the top ten. Under these circumstances, surprisingly, he won the silver medal in the super combined at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Achievements

Olympic games

• Salt Lake City 2002: 9 Giant Slalom
• Turin 2006: 2 combination, 6 Slalom, Super -G 31
• Vancouver 2010: 2 Slalom, 2nd Super Combined, Giant Slalom 7, 16, Super -G, downhill 18
• Sochi 2014: 2 Super Combined, Slalom 9, 24, Super -G, Giant Slalom 27

World Championships

• Vail / Beaver Creek 1999: 32 Super -G
• St. Moritz 2003: 1 Slalom
• Åre 2007: 12 Super Combined
• Garmisch -Partenkirchen 2011: 3 Super -G, 8 Slalom, Giant Slalom 13
• Schladming 2013: 2 Super Combined, Slalom 5, 15 giant slalom, downhill 20th, 28th Super -G

Junior World Championships

• Schladming 1997: 3 combination, 10th slalom, downhill 14th, 16th Super -G, Slalom 22

World Cup ratings

• Season 2001/ 02: 7 Overall World Cup, 1st slalom World Cup
• Season 2002/ 03: 7 Overall World Cup, 2nd Slalom World Cup
• Season 2004/ 05: 7 Slalom World Cup
• Season 2007/ 08: 6 Overall World Cup, 2nd Slalom World Cup, 2nd Combined World Cup
• Season 2008/ 09: 4th overall World Cup, World Cup Slalom 2nd, 4th Combined World Cup
• Season 2009/ 10: 5 Overall World Cup, 3rd Combined World Cup, 4th slalom World Cup
• Season 2010/ 11: first overall World Cup, 1 World Cup Slalom, 1st Combined World Cup, 3rd Super - G World Cup
• Season 2011/12: 4th overall World Cup, 1st Combined World Cup, 2nd Slalom World Cup
• Season 2012/13: 5 Overall World Cup, 1st Combined World Cup, 3rd World Cup slalom

World Cup wins

• 26 World Cup victories (15 slaloms, 5 super combinations, four combinations, one Super -G, 1 Parallel race)
• 59 podiums (40 x Slalom, Super Combined 8 x 6 x combination, 2 x Super -G, Giant Slalom 1 x, 2 x parallel race)

Other successes

• 5 podiums in the Nor- Am Cup, including 2 victories
• 13 wins in FIS races ( slalom 6x, 4x Giant Slalom, Super -G 3x )

Awards

• 2002: Croatia's athlete of the year
• 2011: Skieur d'Or