Jani Klemenčič: Olympian and Bled's Inspiring Local

© Benjamin Črv

Jani Klemenčič is a true multi-hyphenate: an Olympian, rower, entrepreneur, restaurateur, mentor, and inspiration. He holds a special place in Slovenia’s history as part of the coxless four team that won the country's first-ever Olympic medal—a bronze—at the 1992 Barcelona Games after independence. Over his career, he competed in four Olympics, achieved several fourth-place finishes, and secured a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships in Lucerne. Since retiring from competitive rowing in 2007, Jani has transitioned to hospitality and can now often be found at his restaurant, Špica, located by the picturesque Lake Bled.

© Restavracija Špica Bled

Jani's introduction to rowing came almost by accident. Bored and seeking a new challenge, he tried the sport at the suggestion of a rowing friend. Incredibly, within just eight months of training, he secured his first international medal at a regatta in Klagenfurt. Four years later, he was standing on the Olympic podium in Barcelona. The rest, as they say, is history.

A trained restaurateur and someone who dislikes routine, Jani eventually found his calling in hospitality. He initially opened a café named after Cobi, the mascot of the Barcelona Olympics, before establishing Špica, named after the "bow" position in rowing. Rowing will always be a part of him, which is why he shares the values of sports with the wider community through the "Rowing with Olympians" experience, developed alongside rower Miha Pirih. This year, it was also a finalist for the Sejalec 2024 award. Participants learn the basics of rowing techniques in authentic eight-person racing boats "on the most beautiful rowing course in the world." The experience reminds people of the virtues of trust, teamwork, responsibility, and the importance of communication.

© Mitja Kobal

Jani considers living in the breathtaking setting of Bled a privilege he never takes for granted. He resides in the nearby village of Zasip, waking up to panoramic views of "the altar of Gorenjska" that encompass Bled Castle, Lake Bled, and Vintgar Gorge. For him, Bled is not just a place of natural beauty but also a gateway to endless outdoor adventures, with the Pokljuka Plateau and Lake Bohinj just a stone’s throw away.

Sports are embedded in Jani’s DNA, and you’ll often spot him running along the scenic trails of Ojstrica, Straža, or the path around Lake Bled. One of his favorite routes runs from Spodnje Gorje to the viewpoint of St. Catherine's Church, which he describes as a landscape worthy of Slovenia’s greatest poet, France Prešeren, who famously wrote: "No land more fair than Carniola’s domain, an image of paradise itself."

Slip on your running shoes and explore the stunning trails in and around Bled. You may even catch up with—or be overtaken by—Jani Klemenčič himself, a multi-talented rower, Olympian, and champion of Bled’s natural and cultural treasures.

Nika Pirnar

Public relations for Bled Tourist Board