Domen Prevc: The Golden Olympic Flyer

There aren’t many occasions when elite sportsmen meet the yachting industry, and such collaborations are even rarer in our region. This makes the collaboration between MennYacht and the fantastic Slovenian skiing star Domen Prevc, who has recently become their brand ambassador, a rare gem. Considering his area of expertise, it’s no surprise he has leaned a little more towards brands with a sporty spirit, like Pershing and Technohull.

The best Slovenian ski jumper is living a dream in every way. After being crowned the best jumper in the world last year, in March 2025, he broke the world record flying over an incredible 254.5 meters – this year, he has already won the World Championship and the most famous ski jump competition, the New Year's tournament (Vierschanzenturnee).

Domen comes from a famous athletic family and follows in the footsteps of his brother Peter, a world-class jumper and four-time Olympic medalist, his brother Cena with ‘only one’ Olympic medal, and his exceptionally talented younger sister Nika with a series of successes even at the beginning of her career, who is writing Olympic history with her medals at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. We caught up with Domen the day before he left for the Olympics, where he proved his status by winning the gold medal in the mixed team event. He is also a good connoisseur of yachting who has a lot to say about the best coves and favorite motor yachts, so we asked about that first.

HOW DID YOUR COLLABORATION WITH MENNYACHT HAPPEN?
It was a completely organic process, because I love a nautical lifestyle. When I was a child, my uncle would take us sailing around Dalmatia for fourteen days every year on a sailing boat. It kind of gets in your blood. And when I took a trip on a yacht with a colleague last year, I said to myself – this is really something magical. Sailing and ski jumping share some values, like the feeling of freedom and elegance. But what really convinced me to partner with MennYacht was not only the yachts and brands they represent, but the people behind their story. From the very first conversation, I felt a sincere, personal approach and a real passion for what they do. Their team understands performance, precision, and long-term commitment the same way we top athletes do. It never felt like a classic sponsorship contract, rather a partnership based on shared values, mutual trust, and the desire to create special experiences together – at sea and beyond. It was this very human dimension of it all, as well as their professionalism, that allowed for my decision to be made organically.

WHERE AND HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME AT SEA?
Korčula holds a special place in my heart, as does Dubrovnik; it’s magical, as is the entire southern Adriatic. For me, the ‘real’ sea begins in Dalmatia. It’s the entire setting that makes sailing moments special. When you watch the boat sailing, how the bow cuts the surface, and the drops bounce off it... Then there are the sunsets, the view of the horizon, that's the most beautiful thing. And fishing is there, the important moment when you wake up at dawn, throw the hook, and it doesn't matter whether you catch a fish or not. If there isn't one, there's Čokolino (laughs).

HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY  SPEND YOUR DAYS DURING TRAINING?
My typical day looks something like this: I get up, I hop into a cold shower, then I do some stretching. Breakfast is black tea with milk, as I don't drink coffee. Then I move to the ramp, do some warming up and get my body ready, wake up my muscles. I do some jump exercises, and then I just jump. After training, we have some media duties, and I had recovery time until three in the afternoon, after which I went to the gym. Then recovery again, a doctor's appointment, then a massage. After that, I have to go to sleep, and then do it all again the next day.

HOW LONG DOES YOUR SEASON LAST, AND HOW DO YOU TRACK YOUR OVERALL PROGRESS?
My season lasts from the twentieth of November to the first weekend of April, four and a half months. It's best to have a good start, so the whole season is good. It's good to have some leniency at the beginning and start the season with a few extra kilos, so that you don't get sick easily. If you're underweight, it's not good; it's better to be half a kilo or a kilo heavier, because stress, adrenaline, and everything else exhaust you. If I have a little bit of extra weight at the beginning of the season, then it's also easier mentally, as the season goes on.

HOW MUCH DOES YOUR WEIGHT ACTUALLY FLUCTUATE DURING THE SEASON?
Anywhere between 500 and a maximum of 800 grams.

YOU COME FROM A FAMILY OF ATHLETES. WHAT IS THE SECRET?
There are five of us kids; I have two brothers and two younger sisters, one of whom also jumps (note: silver at the 2026 Winter Olympics), two older brothers are retired from sports, and both have Olympic medals, and my younger sister is a ballerina. I am lucky to have strict parents, who provided us with a proper upbringing, and we were given good foundations for success; real values and the knowledge that work hard is the only thing that really counts. That’s why I find effort easy; I think that is the secret of my success. I see that as the root of all my success in this sport. Also, when you have two brothers to follow, with whom you have to fight for your place in other aspects of life, it’s a bit easier to compete against other people. It was hard growing up, but it made me stronger, so when I got a little older, everything seemed easier.

FIVE YEARS AGO, DID YOU THINK YOU COULD OUTDO YOUR BROTHER PETER?
When I was young, I didn't think so. When I was fifteen, I kept hearing it would be difficult for me to be as good as my brother. Now things are coming together; my work and effort are paying off. I feel lucky that I experienced this success at the right moment.

HOW LONG ARE YOUR JUMPS DURING PRACTICE?
Not that long, because that isn’t safe. Long jumps are for competitions, and only in the presence of a doctor. When we jump, we fly at speeds over 130 km/h, and falls can be very, very dangerous.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO FLY OVER 250 METERS OF LENGTH?
When that finally happens after years of practice, it's simply a magical moment. It is very difficult to compare it to anything else. It's something you don't train for, but it happens to you in a competition, you find that special speed and power and suddenly feel that the air is lifting you up... That is rare.

THEY SAY YOU FLY LOW AND FAST. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
It's a technique where you use high speed in the second part of the jump, which creates power (lift force) under the skis, which is greater the faster the speed. That essentially allows for a longer jump. I've been developing that technique for years. I worked on it every day, I kept building it carefully, so I can benefit from it throughout the season.

HOW DO YOU DIFFER FROM YOUR COMPETITION? RECENTLY, JANICA KOSTELIĆ SAID THAT SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE WAS PHYSICALLY SUPERIOR TO OTHER SKIERS.
There's some difference in the technique, some in the instinct, but in the end, the biggest difference is in your mind. How much you trust yourself, your body, how ready you are to give it your all. I think these are my main advantages. Janica and her brother were mentally very strong; they fought for their success very hard, and they knew the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. They were hungry for success, so when they finally got to compete, they were always one hundred percent ready.

YOU ARE THE CARRIER OF THE SLOVENIAN FLAG AT THE OLYMPICS?
I love that so much, especially since my sister Nika is a carrier as well. What makes these Olympics even more magical is Italy, where our sport is traditionally very popular. Although I’m not yet familiar with the Olympics, I can't wait to take everything in. These are my first Olympics, and I'm really looking forward to the experience.

WHAT WOULD AN OLYMPIC MEDAL MEAN TO YOU?
I hope I win it. I hope things work out for me. If it happens, it will be a huge confirmation of my effort and a sign that it has all clicked together. It would be a really big achievement.