Pogačar, who topped the men’s category with 321 points, delivered a career-best season. Racing in the rainbow jersey, he secured his fourth Tour de France title, added both World and European Championship victories, and closed the year with a fifth straight Tour of Lombardy win. Ski jumper Domen Prevc finished second, followed by NBA star Luka Dončić.
In the women’s category, Garnbret earned 271 points after capturing two more World Championship titles and extending her World Cup victory record to 49.
She also received praise for her charity efforts. She finished ahead of ski jumper Nika Prevc and pole vaulter Tina Šutej.
New this year was a category for best women’s team, which the national volleyball squad won by a single point. Among the men, NK Celje took the team award after a historic European campaign, while the ski-jumping quartet claimed top honours in individual sports. Additional awards went to Leja Glojnarič for parasport achievement and Jakob Omrzel as the most promising young athlete.
