Miha Zupan
A deaf power forward who shattered barriers, becoming the only deaf athlete to compete at the highest levels of European professional basketball.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Slovenian basketball player·Birthday: September 13·Millennials
Biography
Miha Zupan's story is one of quiet defiance. Born in Slovenia in 1982, he lost his hearing at age two but found his voice on the basketball court. Standing 6'9", his game spoke through powerful post moves and a relentless work ethic. He refused to be confined to deaf leagues, insisting on competing against hearing players. His career became a landmark, proving that elite sport is a universal language. For over a decade, he battled in the Slovenian League and the EuroCup, his presence alone challenging perceptions. Off the court, he was a stalwart for the Deaflympics, representing Slovenia in five consecutive games, from 1997 to 2017, and carrying the flag. Zupan's legacy isn't in trophies, but in the path he cleared, showing that disability is no match for determined talent.
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.
Miha was born in 1982, 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 Miha Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Miha's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
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
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
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
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the only deaf person to play in a top-tier European professional basketball league.
- Competed in the EuroCup, the continent's second-tier club competition, as a deaf athlete.
- Represented Slovenia at the Deaflympics on five separate occasions over a 20-year span.
- Played professionally for over a decade, primarily for KK Škofja Loka and KD Slovan in Slovenia.
Did You Know?
He lost his hearing at the age of two due to meningitis.
He carried the Slovenian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Deaflympics.
Despite being deaf, he communicated with teammates on court using hand signals and lip-reading.
He is a certified electrician, having trained in the trade.
“My hearing loss is not a disability on the court; it's just a different way to focus.”
