Nataša Bokal

Nataša Bokal was the first female athlete to compete for Slovenia at the Olympic Games. After three Olympic appearances, her career best finishes were seventh in 1992, and ninth in 2002. She won a silver medal in the slalom at the 1991 World Championships, and two slalom medals, competing for Yugoslavia, at the World Universiade (1989 gold, 1987 silver). At the 1991 World Cup in Kranjska Gora, and on one her favorite home courses where the steep terrain suited her, Bokal won her only career title (slalom), and finished second in the giant slalom. Her only other World Cup podium finish was in 1999 at Lienz. Bokal was coached by Jože Drobnič for 15 years and it was because of him that she was able to come back after injuring all the ligaments and meniscus in her right knee in 1992. In 1991, she was named the Best Sportswoman in Slovenia, the first in an independent country.

Born in Kranj, Skofja Loka, Bokals’ parents Franc and Ana signed her up for ski lessons at the age of six, and by seven she had her first competition. She has two younger brothers, Krištof and Jaka. Bokal attended Gimnazija Škofja Loka and studied sport at the University of Ljubljana. After retiring from the sport, she coached skiing in Zagreb.