Miroslav Cerar (Slovene pronunciation: [ˈmíːrɔslaw ˈtsɛ̀ːrar];[1] born 28 October 1939) is a Yugoslav former gymnast and lawyer of Slovene ethnicity who won the pommel horse event at the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. He also won three world and nine European championships.[2]

Miroslav Cerar
Miroslav Cerar at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Country represented Yugoslavia
Born (1939-10-28) 28 October 1939 (age 85)
Ljubljana, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
ResidenceLjubljana, Slovenia
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Medal record
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1964 Tokyo Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Pommel horse
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo Horizontal bar
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1962 Prague Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1962 Prague Parallel bars
Gold medal – first place 1966 Dortmund Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1970 Ljubljana Pommel horse
Bronze medal – third place 1958 Moscow Pommel horse
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Dortmund Parallel bars
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1961 Luxembourg All-around
Gold medal – first place 1961 Luxembourg Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1961 Luxembourg Still rings
Gold medal – first place 1961 Luxembourg Parallel bars
Gold medal – first place 1963 Belgrade All-around
Gold medal – first place 1963 Belgrade Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1963 Belgrade Still rings
Gold medal – first place 1963 Belgrade Parallel bars
Gold medal – first place 1965 Anvers Parallel bars
Silver medal – second place 1963 Belgrade Vault
Silver medal – second place 1965 Anvers Floor exercise
Silver medal – second place 1965 Anvers Pommel horse
Bronze medal – third place 1961 Luxembourg Vault
Bronze medal – third place 1963 Belgrade Floor exercise
Bronze medal – third place 1965 Anvers Still rings

Domestically, Cerar won 13 national titles and was chosen eight times as Yugoslavia's Athlete of the Year. He was awarded the Olympic Order in Silver by the International Olympic Committee. He was member of the Slovenian Olympic Academy, the Fair Play Commission of the Slovenian Olympic Committee, and the executive committee of the European Fair Play Movement.[2]

Family

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Cerar was married to Zdenka Cerar (née Prusnik), who was the first female State Prosecutor General of the Republic of Slovenia (1999–2004), Minister of Justice (2004) and vice-president of the LDS. In her youth she was twice Youth Champion in gymnastics in Yugoslavia and a member of the Yugoslav team. After she ended her active career, she became a coach and referee.[3]

Cerar was a student of law and a lawyer for many years. His son Miro Cerar is also a lawyer, and a politician. He was Slovenia's prime minister and head of the SMC party.[4]

Awards and honors

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In 1999 Cerar was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame,[5] and in 2011 into the Slovenian Athletes Hall of Fame[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Slovenski pravopis 2001: Miroslav". "Slovenski pravopis 2001: Cerar".
  2. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Miroslav Cerar". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ Umrla je Zdenka Cerar. Rtvslo.Si (29 August 2013). Retrieved on 2015-06-28.
  4. ^ INTERVJU – prof. dr. Miro Cerar. Student.si. Retrieved on 28 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Miroslav cerar". International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  6. ^ V Hramu slavnih športnikov prva Štukelj in Cerar. dolenjskilist.si. 21 December 2011.
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Awards
Preceded by
Radivoj Korać
Milan Galić
  The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia
1961
1963, 1964
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Radivoj Korać
Branislav Lončar
Ivo Daneu
Yugoslav Sportsman of the Year
1961–64
1966
1968–70
Succeeded by
Branislav Lončar
Ivo Daneu
Mate Parlov
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for   Yugoslavia
Tokyo 1964
Succeeded by