Ivica Kostelić
A Croatian skier whose technical mastery across every alpine discipline made him one of the World Cup's most versatile and consistent competitors.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Croatian alpine skier·Birthday: November 23·Generation X
Biography
Ivica Kostelić grew up in a skiing family in Zagreb, a dynasty forged by his father Ante, who coached both him and his younger sister Janica. While his sister's star burned brighter with Olympic gold, Ivica carved out his own formidable legacy through sheer consistency and a workmanlike approach. He became known as a technician, a skier who could score points in downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined, a rare feat that spoke to his comprehensive understanding of the mountain. His career was a marathon of near-misses and hard-won podiums, peaking with a silver medal in the combined at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Kostelić's story is one of relentless pursuit in the shadow of greatness, ultimately becoming a pillar of Croatian sport and a respected elder statesman of the World Cup circuit.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ivica was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ivica Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ivica's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
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
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the silver medal in the Alpine Combined at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Secured the overall Alpine Skiing World Cup title in the combined discipline four times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).
- Achieved 26 individual World Cup race victories throughout his career.
- Earned nine World Championship medals, including three golds in team events.
Did You Know?
He and his sister Janica are the only brother-sister pair to have both won Olympic medals in alpine skiing.
His father, Ante Kostelić, was a mechanical engineer who designed and built specialized skis and equipment for his children.
He served as the flag bearer for Croatia at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Before fully committing to skiing, he was a promising tennis player in his youth.
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