Croatia Produces Another World Ski Champion

Istok Rodeš (screenshot)

For the first time in history Croatia has a world junior skiing champion…

Istok Rodeš (20), from Varaždin in Croatia, has stolen the show at the World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships 2016 in Sochi in Russia, winning the gold medal in the slalom. It was his second medal at the world championships after he won bronze in the alpine combined event.

It is the first time Croatia has won gold at the junior world championships. Rodeš achievement eclipses even the famous Kostelić siblings. Janica Kostelić could only manage 12th position in the junior world champs in 1998, while brother Ivica finished 10th in 1997.

There was further good news for Croatia with Elias Kolega finishing 3rd behind Rodeš to claim bronze. German Frederik Norys stopped it from being a 1st and 2nd finish for Croatia. As a reward for winning gold, Rodeš now has the right to compete in the senior World Cup final in St. Moritz.