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Kozmus (28) performed an amazing comeback after his back injury that slowed him down for two years. In June 2007, he shot back into the elite with a new Slovenian hammer throw record of 83.30 metres, a clear forecast of great upcoming success. The eyes of over 100,000 Slovenian sports fans turned to the hammer throw at the 11th Athletics World Championships in Osaka, Japan, when years of preparations manifested in the performance that took Kozmus straight to the top, where he was defeated only by Belorusian Ivan Tihon in his last throw. Kozmus's performance first convinced the Slovenian Athletics Association to name him athlete of the year in November, before he received 262 Slovenian sports journalists votes that elected him the national athlete of the year 2007, thus defeating gymnast Mitja Petkovšek (247 votes) and NHL hockey player Anže Kopitar (117).

The women's athlete of the year title went to Slovenia's best cross country skier, Petra Majdič (27), for the second time in a row. After firmly grounding her name among the world cross skiing elite in 2006, last year was a step up. After winning the classic 10-kilometre Tour de Ski sprint in Oberstdorf, Germany, she won four World Cup events and silver at the World Nordic Ski Championships in Sapporo, Japan, where she lost gold to Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) by only two tenths of a second in a spectacular finish after holding the lead for the entire race. She topped the 2006/7 season with a third place in overall standings, which put Slovenia clearly on the map of international cross skiing, and is strongly in position again for the 2007/8 season. Her achievements resulted in 390 votes, winning her the athlete of the year title over sport climber Maja Vidmar (114 votes) and track and field athlete Brigita Langerholc (87).

According to 58 Slovenian sports journalists, the best team are Slovenian volleyball champions ACH Volley from Bled (previously Autocommerce Volleyball Club). Their pugnacity, courage, team spirit and a big heart left them undefeated, winning them titles of national champions and Top Teams Cup winners. Known for their respect for their opponents and uncompromising victories, the European Volleyball Association has sent them a special invitation to the European Champions League after they didn't make the cut directly. They became best team of 2007 ahead of rowing pair Iztok Čop and Luka Špik (49 votes) and the Slovenian men's national basketball team (20).

40th Anniversary of the Event

The ceremony took place in Cankarjev dom, hosted by an unusual pair - television editor and host, Miša Molk, and a rock band Big Foot Mama's lead singer, Grega Skočir. The fortieth Athlete of The Year Awards, organized by the Association of Slovenian Sports Journalists in association with the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, was also an opportunity to present special awards to rowing champion, Iztok Čop, and former skiing star, Mateja Svet, who had also won numerous Athlete of the Year titles in the past. The Olympic Committee of Slovenia also awarded statues for best achievements in a non-Olympic year to world and European champion in parallel bars, Iztok Petkovšek, world snowboarding champion, Rok Flander, world rowing champions, Čop and Špik, world and European vice-champion in horizontal bar, Aljaž Pegan and a sailing world championship bronze medal winner, Gašper Vinčec, as well as to Primož Kozmus and Petra Majdič. Golden plaques were awarded to their trainers.

Long faces

Typical of award ceremonies, there will be some long faces of those who did not get the awards and think they should, or some of those who believe they were misrepresented in any other way. Such were the soccer players who resented the hosts' mockery of this biggest team sport in Slovenia. However, the awards themselves stirred up the most dust, since some achievements (acknowledged with statues by the Olympic Committee) are higher ranked than those of Kozmus or the volleyball team. Iztok Čop, who came second in team selection with his rowing partner Luka Špik, left the hall during the ceremony in protest of the decisions made by the journalists, believing their world champion title is worth more than the achievements of the volleyball team. Furthermore, he as well as many others argued that the world champion titles of Petkovšek and Flander should outweigh Kozmus's second place, while Flander was even left empty-handed, except for the acknowledgment by the Olympic Committee.

Apart from hard feelings, the ceremony battled last-minute cancellations of former athletes of the year presenting the awards. Rajmond Debevec, most successful Slovenian shooter, cancelled his appearance due to disagreement with what he was supposed to say on stage. Others set aside the awkward handling of the hosts and winners, as well as the seemingly unjust vote. However, there is an explanation why higher achievements were left behind. Athlete of The Year titles are more like to be awarded for outstanding achievements in sports where Slovenia is just beginning to strengthen its reputation. After years of skiing, ski jumping, rowing and gymnastics, hammer throwing is a completely new discipline.

One way or the other, there is no place or time for grudges. Winners have goals to achieve, Kozmus in particular aims at the world record. The year 2008 brings new challenges with the Olympic Games on the horizon and new hopes for outstanding achievements that promote Slovenia throughout the world.