Miro Steržaj facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Miro Steržaj

Miro Steržaj
Personal information
Nationality	Slovenian
Born	(1933-02-28)February 28, 1933 Rakek, Slovenia
Died	(2020-11-08)November 8, 2020 Murska Sobota, Slovenia
Height	186 cm
Sport
Country	Yugoslavia (134 caps)
Sport	9-pins
Club	KK Ljutomer (1950-1962) KK Branik (1962-1978) KK Radenska (1978-2019)
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	200: 1120 (Ljubljana 1973) 120: 570 (Radenci 2004)
Medal record Men's 9-pins Representing  Yugoslavia Event 1st 2nd 3rd World Championships 4 3 5 European Championships 3 2 0 Total 7 5 5 World Championships Gold 1957 Vienna Team Gold 1959 Bautzen Team Gold 1968 Linz Individual Gold 1976 Vienna Team Silver 1968 Linz Doubles Silver 1974 Eppelheim Doubles Silver 1976 Vienna Doubles Bronze 1966 Bucharest Team Bronze 1972 Split Team Bronze 1974 Eppelheim Team Bronze 1980 Mangalia Team Bronze 1984 Ljubljana Team European Championships Gold 1964 Budapest Individual Gold 1964 Budapest Doubles Gold 1964 Budapest Team Silver 1958 Munich Team Silver 1960 Zagreb Team Event 1st 2nd 3rd Yugoslav Championships 13 7 5 Slovenian Championships 25 17 9 Total National Championships 38 24 14 Yugoslav Championships Gold 1964 Individual Gold 1965 Individual Gold 1965 Doubles Gold 1966 Individual Gold 1966 Doubles Gold 1967 Doubles Gold 1968 Individual Gold 1968 Doubles Gold 1971 Individual Gold 1974 Doubles Gold 1976 Individual Gold 1978 Doubles Gold 1981 Individual Silver 1963 Individual Silver 1967 Individual Silver 1970 Individual Silver 1972 Individual Silver 1974 Individual Silver 1975 Individual Silver 1980 Individual Bronze 1961 Individual Bronze 1971 Doubles Bronze 1978 Individual Bronze 1979 Individual Bronze 1982 Doubles Slovenian Championships Gold 1960 Individual Gold 1961 Individual Gold 1962 Individual Gold 1963 Individual Gold 1964 Team Gold 1965 Doubles Gold 1966 Doubles Gold 1968 Individual Gold 1970 Individual Gold 1970 Doubles Gold 1971 Individual Gold 1971 Doubles Gold 1972 Individual Gold 1973 Individual Gold 1973 Doubles Gold 1974 Individual Gold 1974 Doubles Gold 1978 Individual Gold 1978 Doubles Gold 1980 Individual Gold 1980 Doubles Gold 1981 Doubles Gold 1982 Individual Gold 1983 Team Gold 1984 Doubles Silver 1964 Individual Silver 1965 Individual Silver 1965 Team Silver 1966 Individual Silver 1967 Doubles Silver 1967 Team Silver 1968 Doubles Silver 1969 Team Silver 1970 Team Silver 1975 Doubles Silver 1977 Doubles Silver 1979 Team Silver 1982 Doubles Silver 1982 Team Silver 1983 Individual Silver 1983 Doubles Bronze 1962 Team Bronze 1966 Team Bronze 1967 Individual Bronze 1968 Team Bronze 1972 Team Bronze 1973 Team Bronze 1976 Team Bronze 1979 Individual Bronze 1986 Team

Miro Steržaj (full name Miroslav Steržaj, 28 February 1933 – 8 November 2020) was a Slovene 9 pin bowling player and businessman.

Biography

He was born in Rakek, Municipality of Cerknica, but moved to Ljutomer when he was 17 years old.

From 1950 to 1962 he played for KK Ljutomer, where he won his first Slovenian championship in 1960. In 1962 he moved to KK Branik in Maribor. In 1964 he became absolute European champion, winning in the individual, doubles and team events, while setting a new world record. In 1968 he became World champion in the individual category, adding to what would eventually become 4 World championship titles (3 with team in 1957, 1959 and 1976). He came second in doubles in 1968 (with Jože Turk), 1974 and 1976 (with Nikola Dragaš). He was part of the Yugoslav national team for 30 years, becoming their most capped player with 134 caps, which is a record for Slovenian players that stands until today. He won a record 7 individual national Yugoslavian titles (tied with Nikola Dragaš), a record 13 individual national Slovenian titles and a record 10 Slovenian national doubles titles.

In 1955 he began to work at Mlekopromet, a cheese producing dairy in Ljutomer. He was sales manager for 12 years, after which he was appointed director. In 1993 he retired from his post. After his retirement he became secretary of the Economic association of milk production (GIZ mlekarstva). In 2003 he retired from the association and work completely. For his success in buisiness, he received the award of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia in 1981.

He served three terms as vice-mayor, and from 1988 to 1992 he was mayor of Ljutomer. He was part of the 1st Slovenian National Council.

He was named honorary citizen of Ljutomer in 2003. He received the Bloudek award for his sport achievements in 1968. Despite never being named Slovenian Sportsman of the Year outright, he got honoured as Slovenian Sportsman of the decade 1968–1978, awarded for the decade following the first Sportsman of the Year award ceremony. In 2012 he was inducted into the Slovenian Athletes Hall of Fame.