Jure Košir was amongst the first generation of sportsmen to represent a newly independent Slovenia but it was as a competitor for Yugoslavia that he won his first major title, gold in the super-giant slalom, at the 1991 World Junior Championships. He made his senior breakthrough in the 1993-94 season when he became the first representative of Slovenia to win an event on the World Cup circuit. Košir carried his fine form into the Lillehammer Olympics and moved from 8th after the first run to claim a bronze medal in the slalom. His efforts earned him the title of Slovenian Sportsman of the year for 1994. Although he was a regular top 10 finisher in World Cup races it was not until 1999 that he won another victory. He followed up with another win two weeks later but this would prove the last World cup victory of his career. Košir retired in 2006 after being overlooked for selection for what would have been his 5th Olympic appearance.
Away from the piste Košir enjoyed a little success in the music charts as a rapper. The song “Včasih smučam hit, včasih pa počas” (“Sometimes I ski fast, sometimes I ski slowly”) being his most successful.
Slovenia