Teenage canoeing sensation Ziga Lin Hocevar relishes brilliant 2024 season
Ziga Lin Hocevar won the opening event of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup for 2024 in Augsburg. (Photo by ICF)
LJUBLJANA, December 5, 2024 - The Olympic Games in Paris was a sensational highlight for canoeing in 2024. But another major highlight for the sport this year has been the career of Slovenian youngster, Ziga Lin Hocevar, who not only dominated the junior category in the canoe slalom discipline but also achieved many great results against the best seniors in the world. He is the Rookie of the Year in our sport.
At the age of just 16 Hocevar became European champion in May when he captured the men’s C1 crown at the European Canoe Association Canoe Slalom European Championships – his first senior gold medal. He described it as “the biggest victory of my life”.
After an incredible 2024, Hocevar, who turned 17 in June, is now looking forward to an even better 2025 season.
HOCEVAR'S 2024 “What a year! What a journey! I managed to perform at my best and showed the work we have done in the past year. Every medal and title I won means so much to me. They are made out of sweat and tears. But more than these achievements, I still love the feeling at the start and finish lines. It gives me motivation and power,” he said.
In addition to becoming European champion in 2024, Hocevar finished second overall in the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series. He retained his men’s canoe crown at the ICF Canoe Slalom Junior and U23 World Championships, won the kayak event as well and claimed silver in the C1 team event at the U23 level. At the European Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships he won one gold and one silver in C1 and K1 respectively and another gold in the C1 team event at the U23 level.
At the age of just 16 Hocevar became European champion in May when he captured the men’s C1 crown at the European Canoe Association Canoe Slalom European Championships – his first senior gold medal. He described it as “the biggest victory of my life”.
After an incredible 2024, Hocevar, who turned 17 in June, is now looking forward to an even better 2025 season.
HOCEVAR'S 2024 “What a year! What a journey! I managed to perform at my best and showed the work we have done in the past year. Every medal and title I won means so much to me. They are made out of sweat and tears. But more than these achievements, I still love the feeling at the start and finish lines. It gives me motivation and power,” he said.
In addition to becoming European champion in 2024, Hocevar finished second overall in the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series. He retained his men’s canoe crown at the ICF Canoe Slalom Junior and U23 World Championships, won the kayak event as well and claimed silver in the C1 team event at the U23 level. At the European Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships he won one gold and one silver in C1 and K1 respectively and another gold in the C1 team event at the U23 level.
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