Racing legend Boris Strel found dead

Slovenian racing great Boris Strel has died. The first Slovene (then Yugoslav) to win a World Cup GS (Cortina Jan 25, 1981), Strel was a World Junior Champion, a World Championship medalist and a two time Olympian.

Strel, 53, was found dead and Slovene police report an investigation is ongoing. There are reports he took his own life.

Strel’s medal at the Schladming World Championships of 1982 was the first for Yugoslavia and is also considered the first for Slovenia which later splintered. He also placed top five in GS at the Sarajevo Olympics. His GS win at Cortina remains the only GS win by a Slovene or Yugoslav male.

Back issues forced his retirement from competitive skiing in the ’85 season. He stayed connected to his sport founding a ski school and ski service in Skofja Loki and Ljubljana. In 2010 he Inaugurated Expo-winter, an international Fair of winter sports equipment, tourism and recreation.