Stane Perpar

Stene Perpar followed in his father’s footsteps by taking up a career in the military. Perpar graduated from high school in February 1917 and was drafted into the army the following month. He spent a year at military school where he was given his own horse and later awarded with the Karl Troop Cross for his service to the Austro-Hungarian armed forces at the end of World War I. Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 Perpar was first assigned to a Slovenian-German regiment before joining a Slovenian-Croatian cavalry platoon.

In January 1919 Perpar was captured by Hungarian forces following their attack on the Slovenian town of Murska Sobota. He later escaped and wrote his memoires of the events, which were published in Slovenian newspapers. In the same year Perpar was wounded in battle during the Austro-Slovene conflict that took part in the aftermath of World War I, with him leaving his role in the military. By 1927 he had become a doctor working in the town of Logatec.

In between his time in the military and working as a doctor Perpar was also a talented track and field athlete. He was a multiple champion of Yugoslavia who set Yugoslav and Slovenian records in the 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump, and triple jump. Perpar was a seven-time champion of Yugoslavia, doing the 100 and 200 metres double in 1922, 1923, and 1927. He was also part of the quartet that won the 4 x 100 metres relay race in 1924. His performances in 1922 and 1923 earned him a place on Yugoslavia’s team for the 1924 Paris Olympics. He ran in the 200 metres and was the flagbearer for his country at the Opening Ceremony. Four years later Perpar was selected to run in the 100 metres at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics but did not start the race.

Personal Best: 200 – 22.9 (1923).