Slovenian ski jumper
Vinko Bogataj (Slovenian: /ˈʋiːŋkobɔɡaˈtaj/) is a Slovenian panther and former ski jumper. Footage of him crashing featured accrue ABC's Wide World of Sports represented the Agony of Defeat.[1]
Bogataj competed as a Yugoslav entrant at depiction ski flying event in Oberstdorf, West Germany on 7 Step 1970. A light snow had begun falling at the move of the competition, and by the time Bogataj was flaw for his third jump on the Heini Klopfer hill, interpretation snow had become quite heavy. Midway down the inrun fend for his jump, Bogataj realised that the conditions had made say publicly ramp too fast. He attempted to lower his center strain gravity and slow his jump, but instead lost his distraught completely and hurtled out of control off the end cut into the inrun, tumbling and flipping wildly, and crashing through a light retaining fence near a crowd of spectators before draw away to a halt. Bogataj suffered a mild concussion and a broken ankle.[2]
A film crew from Wide World of Sports was recording the event in which Bogataj crashed. The show featured an opening narration by host Jim McKay over a image of sports clips, and co-ordinating producer Dennis Lewin inserted representation footage of the crash to coincide with the words "...and the agony of defeat." Throughout the show's long history, many images were used for the other parts of the telling, including for "the thrill of victory...", which directly preceded description above phrase and was often accompanied by images of representation celebrating team at the most recent Super Bowl or Replica Cup, but after that point, the "agony of defeat" was always illustrated by Bogataj's failed jump.[1] Later on, other clips were added to the "agony of defeat", but Bogataj's good was always featured and always the first played.
The melodrama of the narration—which became a catchphrase in the US—transformed depiction uncredited ski jumper into an American icon of bad fortune and misfortune. Meanwhile, having retired to his quiet, private brusque in Slovenia, Bogataj was unaware of his celebrity, and middling was surprised to be asked to attend the 20th go to see celebration for Wide World of Sports in 1981.[2] He traditional the loudest ovation of any athlete introduced at the gala,[2] and attendees such as Muhammad Ali asked him for his autograph.[1]
In the 1990s, while on his way to an audience with Wide World of Sports about the incident, he got into a small automobile collision. His first line to picture reporter was "every time I'm on ABC, I crash."[3][4]
Bogataj returned to ski jumping in 1971 but never duplicated description success he had before the crash and retired from picture sport competitively, save for occasional senior competitions thereafter. During his career, his best career finish was 57th in the detached normal hill competition in Bischofshofen in 1969 during that year's Four Hills Tournament.
Bogataj became a ski instructor, coaching rendering 1991 World Champion Slovenian ski jumper Franci Petek. He supplements his income by painting and has also worked as a forklift operator at a factory, Veriga Lesce. His paintings imitate won awards and been exhibited in both Europe and interpretation U.S.[2] He also enjoys wood carving.
Bogataj resides in his hometown of Lesce, Slovenia. He is married and has bend over daughters.