Miro Steržaj

Miro Steržaj (full name Miroslav Steržaj, 28 February 1933 – 8 November 2020) was a Slovene 9 pin bowling player and politician.[1]

Miro Steržaj
Miro Steržaj
Personal information
NationalitySlovenian
Born(1933-02-28)February 28, 1933
Rakek, Slovenia
Died(2020-11-08)November 8, 2020
Murska Sobota, Slovenia
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Sport
Country Yugoslavia (134 caps)
 SR Slovenia (34 caps)
Sport9-pins
ClubKK Ljutomer (1950-1962)
KK Branik (1962-1978)
KK Radenska (1978-2019)
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
Medal record
Men's 9-pins
Representing  Yugoslavia
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Championships 4 3 5
European Championships 3 2 0
Total 7 5 5
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1957 ViennaTeam
Gold medal – first place1959 BautzenTeam
Gold medal – first place1968 LinzIndividual
Gold medal – first place1976 ViennaTeam
Silver medal – second place1968 LinzDoubles
Silver medal – second place1974 EppelheimDoubles
Silver medal – second place1976 ViennaDoubles
Bronze medal – third place1966 BucharestTeam
Bronze medal – third place1972 SplitTeam
Bronze medal – third place1974 EppelheimTeam
Bronze medal – third place1980 MangaliaTeam
Bronze medal – third place1984 LjubljanaTeam
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1964 BudapestIndividual
Gold medal – first place1964 BudapestDoubles
Gold medal – first place1964 BudapestTeam
Silver medal – second place1958 MunichTeam
Silver medal – second place1960 ZagrebTeam
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Yugoslav Championships 13 7 5
Slovenian Championships 25 17 9
Total National Championships 38 24 14
Yugoslav Championships
Gold medal – first place1964Individual
Gold medal – first place1965Individual
Gold medal – first place1965Doubles
Gold medal – first place1966Individual
Gold medal – first place1966Doubles
Gold medal – first place1967Doubles
Gold medal – first place1968Individual
Gold medal – first place1968Doubles
Gold medal – first place1971Individual
Gold medal – first place1974Doubles
Gold medal – first place1976Individual
Gold medal – first place1978Doubles
Gold medal – first place1981Individual
Silver medal – second place1963Individual
Silver medal – second place1967Individual
Silver medal – second place1970Individual
Silver medal – second place1972Individual
Silver medal – second place1974Individual
Silver medal – second place1975Individual
Silver medal – second place1980Individual
Bronze medal – third place1961Individual
Bronze medal – third place1971Doubles
Bronze medal – third place1978Individual
Bronze medal – third place1979Individual
Bronze medal – third place1982Doubles
Slovenian Championships
Gold medal – first place1960Individual
Gold medal – first place1961Individual
Gold medal – first place1962Individual
Gold medal – first place1963Individual
Gold medal – first place1964Team
Gold medal – first place1965Doubles
Gold medal – first place1966Doubles
Gold medal – first place1968Individual
Gold medal – first place1970Individual
Gold medal – first place1970Doubles
Gold medal – first place1971Individual
Gold medal – first place1971Doubles
Gold medal – first place1972Individual
Gold medal – first place1973Individual
Gold medal – first place1973Doubles
Gold medal – first place1974Individual
Gold medal – first place1974Doubles
Gold medal – first place1978Individual
Gold medal – first place1978Doubles
Gold medal – first place1980Individual
Gold medal – first place1980Doubles
Gold medal – first place1981Doubles
Gold medal – first place1982Individual
Gold medal – first place1983Team
Gold medal – first place1984Doubles
Silver medal – second place1964Individual
Silver medal – second place1965Individual
Silver medal – second place1965Team
Silver medal – second place1966Individual
Silver medal – second place1967Doubles
Silver medal – second place1967Team
Silver medal – second place1968Doubles
Silver medal – second place1969Team
Silver medal – second place1970Team
Silver medal – second place1975Doubles
Silver medal – second place1977Doubles
Silver medal – second place1979Team
Silver medal – second place1982Doubles
Silver medal – second place1982Team
Silver medal – second place1983Individual
Silver medal – second place1983Doubles
Bronze medal – third place1962Team
Bronze medal – third place1966Team
Bronze medal – third place1967Individual
Bronze medal – third place1968Team
Bronze medal – third place1972Team
Bronze medal – third place1973Team
Bronze medal – third place1976Team
Bronze medal – third place1979Individual
Bronze medal – third place1986Team

Biography

He was born in Rakek, Municipality of Cerknica, but moved to Ljutomer when he was 17 years old.

From 1950 to 1962 he played for KK Ljutomer, where he won his first individual Slovenian championship in 1960. In 1962 he moved to KK Branik in Maribor. In 1964 he became absolute European champion, winning in the individual, doubles and team events, while setting a new world record. In 1968 he became World champion with another world record in the individual category, adding to what would eventually become 4 World championship titles (3 with team in 1957, 1959 and 1976). He came second in doubles in 1968 (with Jože Turk), 1974 and 1976 (with Nikola Dragaš). He was part of the Yugoslav national team for 30 years, becoming their most capped player with 134 caps, which is a record for Slovenian players that stands until today. He won a record 7 individual national Yugoslavian titles (tied with Nikola Dragaš), a record 13 individual national Slovenian titles and a record 10 Slovenian national doubles titles, making him the statistically best Slovene nine-pin bowler of all time.

In 1955 he began to work at Mlekopromet, a cheese producing dairy in Ljutomer. He was sales manager for 12 years, after which he was appointed director. In 1993 he retired from his post. After his retirement he became secretary of the Economic association of milk production (GIZ mlekarstva). In 2003 he retired from the association and work completely. For his success in business, he received the award of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia in 1981.

He served three terms as vice-mayor, and from 1988 to 1992 as mayor of Ljutomer. He served as a member of the 1st Slovenian National Council.

He was named honorary citizen of Ljutomer in 2003. He received the Bloudek award for his sport achievements in 1968. Despite never being named Slovenian Sportsman of the Year outright, he got honoured as Slovenian Sportsman of the decade 1968–1978, awarded for the decade following the first Sportsman of the Year award ceremony. In 2012 he was inducted into the Slovenian Athletes Hall of Fame.

He died in November 2020, aged 87, from COVID-19 and thrombosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia.[2]

References
  1. "Umrl je Miroslav Steržaj" [Miroslav Steržaj has died]. 24ur.com (in Slovenian). 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  2. https://www.kegljaska-zveza.si/umrl-miro-sterzaj/
  • Slovenski veliki leksikon, Mladinska knjiga (2003)
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