Goran Janus takes over team Slovenia, Marjan Jelenko retires

Slovenian Ski Jumping success coach Goran Janus has a new challenge: he took over the responsibility for the nation’s Nordic Combined A-team.

According to reports of Slovenian media outlet Delo.si, Goran Janus, the father of the success of Slovenian Ski Jumping in recent years, did not hesitate for a long time when Ljubo Jasnič, Chairman of the Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Committee, offered him the position of head coach of the Nordic Combined national team, following in the footsteps of Mitja Oranic. "I had another interesting offer, but I decided on Nordic Combined. It’s an area I have never been to before and it was a challenge for me," the 49-year-old from Ljubljana explained. “It is a challenging sport with two different disciplines “bumping” into each other. So many pieces need to come together before you can put them in the proper puzzle”, Janus explained.

Despite the complexity of the sport, Janus quickly found himself at home in the new environment. "We got along really well," explained Janus, who was welcomed by FIS Race Director Lasse Ottesen, among others. “I’ve known Lasse ever since we were jumping together. He was interested in how my coaching colleagues received me in Nordic Combined, and he wished me luck.”

Janus is assisted by former Nordic Combined athletes Gasper Berlot and Anze Obrez. The expert team also includes fitness coach Matjaz Polak and physical therapist Urban Jarc.

The Slovenian colours will be represented by four young athletes this year, namely Gasper Brecl, Ozbej Jelen, Rok Jelen and Vid Vrhovnik. Janus regrets that long-time national team athlete Marjan Jelenko decided to hang up his skis. “When I became the head coach, he agreed to join us in August but then decided otherwise. Too bad! If he changes his mind, he is always welcome."

“When Goran Janus took over as head coach in the spring, we agreed that I would join the team in August. But the closer that date got , the less I had the desire to start training full steam. Given that I've been to the World Cup already, I know how much work it takes to be there. I had to face the truth: I was no longer ready to invest in sports. From the very beginning, I also told myself that I would finish my career when I first doubted my abilities and lost my will”, Jelenko said about his reason.

His career highlights include a 7th place with the team at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme in 2013, a silver medal at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Otepää in 2011 and a fifth place in the World Cup competition in Lillehammer in 2012.

"I have gained a great deal of experience in Nordic Combined, I have learned order and discipline, I have become a better person ... I can build on that," said Jelenko, who is already transferring his knowledge to children at Rogla Cross-Country Ski Club. He himself is still active. “I cycle a lot, motivated by Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar. No worries, I'm not going to quit and weigh up to 100 pounds, "he concluded with a laugh.