Cene Prevc
A Slovenian ski jumper who soared to World Cup victory as a teenager, then navigated the turbulent winds of expectation and injury.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Slovenian ski jumper·Birthday: March 12·Millennials
Biography
Cene Prevc emerged from a family dynasty of ski jumpers, carrying the weight of his famous surname onto the hills. His talent was undeniable and explosive; he didn't just arrive on the World Cup circuit, he announced himself by winning a event in Kuusamo at just 18. For a moment, he seemed poised to rival his older brother Peter's dominance. His career, however, became a study in the physical and psychological demands of the sport. Battling inconsistencies and the pressure of his early success, he showed flashes of brilliance—like a stunning win in Willingen in 2016—amidst struggles. His decision to retire in his mid-twenties highlighted the intense, grinding nature of elite ski jumping, marking the end of a promising but challenging chapter for the Prevc family's second act.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cene was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cene Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Cene's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won his first World Cup event in Kuusamo in December 2014 at the age of 18.
- Achieved a career-high 5th place finish in the overall World Cup standings for the 2014-2015 season.
- Secured a dramatic victory in Willingen in 2016 with a spectacular second jump.
- Represented Slovenia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
Did You Know?
He is the younger brother of ski jumping star Peter Prevc.
He retired from professional competition in 2020 at the age of 24.
Like his brother, he was known for his distinctive, very long skis.
His first World Cup podium was also a victory, a rare feat for a debutant.
“You must trust your feeling in the air; the hill tells you nothing.”
