Janja Garnbret, the best competitive climbing of all time. Photo: Leo Zhukov
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Here’s a fun fact: Slovenia is the size of New Jersey, America’s fifth-smallest state. If you lived in Slovenia instead of the U.S., on average you’d live a little over a year longer, and be 44 percent less likely to be obese, according to a random comparison site on the internet.
Slovenia is doing something right and is also home to some of the best climbers in the world. Janja Garnbret, for one, more World Cup victories than any climber, in history, ever. Her teammates Mia Krampl, Lučka Rakovec, Vita Lukan, Jernej Kruder, Gregor Vezonik, and Domen Škofic all make regular appearances in the final rounds of World Cups. And let’s not forget about Mina Markovič and Maja Vidmar, both retired, some of the world’s best while they were still in action.
The Slovenian Team—from right to left are Katja Kadic, Mia Krampl and Lucka Rakovec—plus Alex Megos, from Germany. Photo: Jan Virt
Lucka Rakovec, at the same practice. Photo: Jan VirtLuka Potocar snatching a sloper at the 2020 comp simulation practice. Photo: Jan Virt Lucka Rakovec captured during an elegant dismount off the top of a boulder problem. Photo: Jan VirtDomen Svab, Team Coach Photo: Jan Virt
Team Slovenia has a deep roster of top World Cup competitors that extends beyond Garnbret and Rakovec. Witness Vita Lukan, seen here on her way to placing fifth at the Bouldering World Cup, in Meiringen, Switzerland. Photo: Vladek Zumr
A Forced Rivalry
A forced rivalry—that’s what you get when you have two teammates and only one Olympic spot. Since their fellow Slovenian Janja Garnbret had already qualified for the Olympics, Lucka Rakovec and Mia Krampl, both 18 at the time, went head to head for Slovenia’s other spot in the final round of the Toulouse Olympic Qualifier. It was both a heartbreaking and inspirational showdown between two friends and closely-matched competitors.
Rakovec looked poised to win after placing sixth in Speed and third in Bouldering, while Krampl was seventh in both disciplines. To win the Olympic invitation, Krampl needed to place first in Lead, and Rakovec had to finish third or lower. The final lead route, an endurance fest up a series of volumes and crimps, culminated in a difficult move out of a roof and to a volume. The top five lead climbers ultimately fell on the same move, except that Krampl alone stuck the hold before falling. Krampl placed first and Rakovec third based on time. Krampl was awarded the Olympic invitation for a final score just five points less than Rakovec’s (lowest score wins). The teammates could be seen hugging each other following the event, each flushed with tears, but still cracking smiles.
Janja Garnbret eyeing her next move. Garnbret is the most successful competition climber in history. Photo: Vladek Zumr
Rakovec later spoke with Gym Climber on results: “Bad results are really hard to cope with, but bad results don’t always reflect how prepared you are. Sometimes you make mistakes, and the best thing you can get from ‘bad’ competitions is to learn from your mistakes. If you try to see it from a positive point of view, you can see your weak points and [the] stuff you have to work on, so one day everything will click together, and the results you want will come too.”
