CAREER

INTERNATIONAL STAGE

The career of Jozef Ninis ranks among the longest and most consistent in the history of Slovak luge. A member of the Sports Centre of the Police and the TOP Team Slovakia, he has been active on the international stage for more than two decades, during which time he has gone through several developmental phases of the sport. Changes in sled technology, training methodologies, and the generational turnover of competitors have required continuous adaptation.

Over the years, he has established himself as a reliable national team representative, consistently navigating the demanding qualification systems of the World Cup and the Nations Cup. A significant milestone in his career came at the 2018 European Championships in Sigulda, where he won a silver medal in the non-Olympic sprint event and finished sixth in the classic World Cup discipline.

At World Championships, he has regularly placed within the second ten of the starting field, a result that, given the strength of international competition, confirms his long-term performance level. Jozef Ninis's career is defined by continuity, which has made him a mainstay of the Slovak national team across generations and a respected athlete on the global stage.

OLYMPIC JOURNEY

Olympic debut at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, where he gained his first experience at the highest level of world sport. This was followed by the Vancouver 2010 Games, which confirmed his position as a stable member of the world elite and the Slovak national team during a period of increasing professionalisation in luge.

A major milestone came at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. On the technically demanding track, he achieved his best individual Olympic result, finishing 20th in the men's singles competition. He was also part of the Slovak team in the team relay event, where Slovakia placed tenth.

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games further confirmed his continuity in an environment of exceptionally balanced competition and a rapidly evolving sport. At the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, he made his fifth Olympic appearance, placing him among the most experienced athletes in the field.

In January 2026, his qualification for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games was officially confirmed. His sixth Olympic participation will establish a Slovak national record for the number of starts at the Winter Olympic Games and underlines his exceptional longevity. Jozef Ninis's Olympic journey stands as an example of perseverance and dedication to the values of elite sport and the Olympic ideals.