Paris (AFP)

Two million inhabitants but a hell of a prize: the expected coronation of Tadej Pogacar in front of his compatriot Primoz Roglic, Sunday in the Tour de France, is a new sporting triumph for Slovenia, which shines more and more on varied grounds.

Independent since 1991, the small Alpine republic only won 7 gold medals in all at the Olympic Games.

But the pace of its success has accelerated in recent years.

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1992: Cop, the pioneer

Independent for only a year, Slovenia made its appearance on the international sports scene in 1992 at the Albertville and then Barcelona Olympics.

About sixty winter and summer athletes combined for two medals - bronze - obtained in rowing, the first thanks to the coxless pair of Iztok Cop and Denis Zvegelj.

Passed to the two of sculls with Luka Spik, Cop offers the first Olympic title to the country eight years later (2000).

In Sydney, the shooter Rajmond Debevec is also adorned with gold.

Tireless, Cop and Spik complete their collection of metals with silver in 2004 in Athens and bronze in ... 2012 in London, 20 years after Cop's first charm, quadruple medalist at 40.

Since Sydney, Slovenia has collected between 4 and 5 medals in each summer edition thanks to six favorite disciplines: rowing obviously (5 podiums in all), judo (5, only thanks to women), athletics (4 medals including gold for hammer thrower Primoz Kozmus), shooting (3 for Debevec alone), sailing (3 for Vasilij Zbogar alone) and canoeing (2).

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2001-2004: handball takes off

Rather at the margin in the Yugoslav successes, the Slovenian hand emerges from the shadow of the Serbian and Croatian big brothers in the early 2000s. Among the girls, Krim Ljubljana truste 5 Champions League finals for two titles (2001 and 2003 ).

The consecration for men comes in stride for Celje, crowned European champion in 2004. The same year, at home, the men's team reached the final of the Euro against Germany (defeat 30-25).

Since then, Slovenia has regularly been successful: semi-finalist of the 2013 and 2017 Worlds, it again reached the last four at the end of January at the Euro, narrowly beaten by Spain (34-32), future winner .

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2014: the triumph of Maze

A hilly and mountainous country, Slovenia shines more at the Summer Olympics than at the Winter Olympics: if Peter Prevc is one of the best ski jumpers of the last decade, only the skier Tina Maze offered him Olympic gold. , in 2014 in Sochi (downhill and giant slalom).

Four Olympic medals (2 gold, 2 silver), as many titles at the world championships, the general classification of the World Cup in 2013 plus 3 small crystal globes the same year, 81 podiums including 26 victories on this circuit: Lindsey Vonn's great rival has undoubtedly the most beautiful record in Slovenian sport.

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2018: the NBA goes Slovenian

What if Goran Dragic followed in the skier's footsteps?

The MVP of Euro 2017, who made Slovenia triumph in the final against the Serbian rival (93-85) after a perfect run and demonstrations against France (+17) and Spain (+20), is vying to win the NBA title with Miami.

At 34, the leader, All-Star in 2018, has the skill and experience to join Rasho Nesterovic, 2005 champion with San Antonio.

Otherwise, it might be for Maverick Luka Doncic, 2018 European champion with Real Madrid.

The other Slovenian All-Star (2020) has collected individual records since arriving in Dallas in 2018.

Slovenian basketball is living its golden age, so is volleyball?

Surprise finalist of the Euro in 2015, Slovenia no longer surprised anyone by putting it back in 2019, defeating Bulgaria, Russia, Poland before giving in in the final against Serbia.

It will take some getting used to.

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