Blaž Medvešek (born July 10, 1980 in

Maribor Maribor ( , , ; also known by other #Name, historical names) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, second-largest city in Slovenia and the largest city of the traditional region of Styria (Slovenia), Lower Styria. It is the seat of the ...

) is a former

backstroke Backstroke or back crawl is one of the four Swimming (sport), swimming styles used in competitive events regulated by FINA, and the only one of these styles swum on the back. This swimming style has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disa ...

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

from

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

, who competed for his native country of Slovenia at the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad (), and officially branded as Athens 2004 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, Greece. The Games saw 10,625 athletes ...

Athens, Greece Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

as well as at

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

Sydney, Australia Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 km (50 mi) from the Pacific Ocean ...

. In his swimming career, he has represented Branik,

and Ilirija,

Ljubljana {{Infobox settlement , name = Ljubljana , official_name = , settlement_type = Capital city , image_skyline = {{multiple image , border = infobox , perrow = 1/2/2/1 , total_widt ...

Swimming Clubs and achieved highest achievements while training in

Ljubljana {{Infobox settlement , name = Ljubljana , official_name = , settlement_type = Capital city , image_skyline = {{multiple image , border = infobox , perrow = 1/2/2/1 , total_widt ...

with coach Dimitrij Mancevič and team mate Peter Mankoč. Blaž is still considered to be one of the most successful Slovenian swimmers of all time being finalist at all major swimming competitions including the

and winning numerous national titles. Furthermore, he still holds the national records in long course pools in 50 m backstroke (26.08), 100 m backstroke (54.88), and 200 m backstroke (1:58.61) as well as for short course meters pools in 100 m backstroke (52.69) and 200 m backstroke (1:52.39). The highest achievements include (chronologically): * 1997: European Junior Championships - 8th 100 m backstroke * 1998: European Junior Championships - 5th 200 m backstroke, 7th 100 m backstroke * 2000:

- 23rd 200 m backstroke, 32nd 100 m backstroke; European LC Championships 2000 - 9th 200 m backstroke, 12th 50 m backstroke; European SC Championships 2000 - 3rd 200 m backstroke, 4th 100 m backstroke, 6th 50 m backstroke;

2000 FINA Short Course World Championships The 5th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) were held at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Athens, Greece from 16 to 19 March 2000. 15 world records were set. Men's events Legend: WR: World record; CR: World Championships record Women's ev ...

- 11th 100 m backstroke * 2001:

2001 World Aquatics Championships The 2001 World Aquatics Championships or the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan between 16 July and 29 July 2001. The opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the swimming and synchronised swimming events, were ...

- 14th 100 m backstroke; European SC Championships 2001 - 6th 200 m backstroke, 6th 100 m backstroke, 11th 50 m backstroke;

Mediterranean Games The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event organised by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). It is held every four years among athletes from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Africa, Asia and Europe. The fi ...

- 2nd 100 m backstroke * 2002: European LC Championships 2002 - 8th 200 m backstroke, 13th 100 m backstroke, 13th 50 m backstroke;

2002 FINA Short Course World Championships The 6th FINA Short Course World Championships were held in Moscow, Russia on April 3–7, 2002. The event took place in the 25m-pool of the Olympiiski-complex, which also hosted the swimming event at the 1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer ...

- 3rd 200 m backstroke, 13th 50 m backstroke; European SC Championships 2000 - 9th 200 m backstroke, 14th 100 m backstroke * 2003:

2003 World Aquatics Championships The 10th FINA World Aquatics Championships were held July 12–27, 2003 in Barcelona, Spain. The championships featured competition in all 5 of FINA's disciplines: Swimming, Diving, Synchronised swimming, Water Polo, and Open Water Swimming. ...

- 8th 200 m backstroke, 10th 100 m backstroke, 10th 4×100 m medley relay; European SC Championships 2003 - 1st 200 m backstroke, 13th 100 m backstroke * 2004:

- 8th 200 m backstroke, 14th 4×100 m medley relay; European LC Championships 2004 - 4th 100 m backstroke, 4th 200 m backstroke; European SC Championships 2004 - 2nd 200 m backstroke, 4th 100 m backstroke * 2005:

2005 World Aquatics Championships The 2005 World Aquatics Championships () or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005. They took place in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saint Helen's Island. Competition Medal standings :''o ...

- 8th 100 m backstroke, 10th 200 m backstroke, final 4×100 medley relay (dq), 10th 4×100 m freestyle;

- 1st 200 m backstroke, 1st 4×100 m medley relay; European SC Championships 2005 - 8th 200 m freestyle, 16th 100 m freestyle * 2006: 2006 European Championships in Aquatics - 8th 200 m freestyle, 13th 400 m freestyle, 15th 100 m freestyle Medvešek decided to retire in 2006 to focus on other aspects of his life and is currently finishing a degree in economics at the

University of Maribor The University of Maribor () is Slovenia's second-largest university, established in 1975 in Maribor, Slovenia. It currently has 17 faculties. History The university's roots reach back to 1859 when a theological seminary was established wi ...

References

Slovenian Swimming Federation
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Medvesek, Blaz 1980 births Living people Slovenian male swimmers Olympic swimmers for Slovenia Male backstroke swimmers Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Maribor University of Maribor alumni Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Slovenia Swimmers at the 2005 Mediterranean Games Summer World University Games medalists in swimming Mediterranean Games medalists in swimming FISU World University Games gold medalists for Slovenia Medalists at the 2005 Summer Universiade