COACheS
© 2007 Getty Images
Luka Spik (b) and Iztok Cop
(s) of Slovenia celebrate after
winning gold in the men’s
double sculls at the 2007 World
Rowing Championships in
Munich, Germany.
15
Slovenian Coach Families
Coach Milos Jansa
• Milan Jansa
• Miha Jansa
Coach Marko Mizerit
• Peter Mizerit
• Davor Mizerit
Coach Dusan Jurse
• Jernej Jurse
• Janez Jurse
Best Results
2001 World Rowing Championships M4- ( Bronze)
1992 Olympic Games M4- ( Bronze)
2004 World Rowing Championships LM4x (10th)
2004 World Rowing Junior Championships JM4- (Gold)
2005 World Rowing Championships M4x (Silver)
2007 World Rowing U23 Championships BM4x (5th)
2007 World Rowing U23 Championships BM4x (5th)
Beyond tradition, Slovenia’s success lies
in family: “There is a long tradition. I’ve
been coaching for about 40 years and my
colleagues twenty to thirty years,” Jansa
emphasizes while pointing to the three
other national coaches who assist him:
Marko Mizerit, Dusan Jurse and Vlado Krulcič.
Jansa, Mizerit and Jurse have raised their own
children to be part of the national rowing
team.
Jansa is known for taking lanky teenagers,
schooling them in singles and pitting them
against rowing giants at the senior World
Rowing Championships, despite junior or
under-23 eligibility. He insists his protégés
start in single sculls. “Rowing in the single
is very good for developing technique and
feeling the balance. I think it’s very important,
better than to begin immediately in an eight,
for example. In a big boat I don’t think you
can learn technique so well. We begin with
sweep rowing maybe when they are 16 or 17
years old, but not with all of them.”
Slovenia’s sweepers have seen success too,
although overshadowed by the achievements
of the double. The men’s four secured
Olympic qualification with a fifth place at this
year’s World Rowing Championships.
Does Jansa consider creating an eight,
perhaps in time for 2011 when Slovenia will
host the WorldRowingChampionships ?
“Right now our interest is for scullers, but why
not an eight?” ■ L.L.
