Former director of Croatian alpine teams at the center of a scandal that shook the Croatian Ski Association and the Olympic Committee, having previously highlighted a vision that created generations of skiing success.
While uncertainty surrounds his extradition from Kazakhstan, former director of the Croatian alpine ski teams Vedran Pavlek, in an earlier public appearance, spoke openly about the immense influence of Ante Kostelić on Croatian skiing. "Ante opened a vision and opened my eyes, and likewise, those of numerous male and female skiers," said Pavlek, whose words today take on a new dimension given the scandal that shook the national ski organization in mid-March 2026.
Pavlek worked closely with the Kostelić family and played a key role in organizing the Snow Queen race on Sljeme. His administrative career began after ending his skiing career at the age of 25, having previously, among other things, carried the Croatian flag at the opening ceremony of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
The scandal erupted when USKOK entered the Croatian Ski Association, with 7Dnevno being the first to report it. Shortly after, Pavlek resigned as director of the national teams and the 'ski pool'. Meanwhile, other branches of the affair have seriously shaken the Croatian Olympic Committee as well.
Speaking of Ante Kostelić, Pavlek spared no words of praise for the coach and father of Janica and Ivica. "Through his vision, Ana Jelušić, Nika Fleiss, Natko Zrnčić-Dim, and Filip Zubčić broke through, and today we have Leona Popović and Zrinka Ljutić," he listed. "With dedicated and persistent work, coupled with vision, top results can be achieved. Ante, thank you for that."
Pavlek was arrested in early May 2026 in Kazakhstan following an international arrest warrant. Initially, he was held for 40 days of investigative custody, but on June 10, the specialized investigative court in Almaty ordered extradition detention for 12 months, pending a final decision on extradition.
Uncertainty has persisted for over three months, and at the end of July, Croatia sent an official request for his extradition to Kazakhstan. Reports have also emerged that Pavlek is refusing extradition, allegedly out of fear for his life. Meanwhile, investigators have interviewed around 90 witnesses, and as part of the evidence, items seized during his arrest have been submitted from abroad, including phones, bank cards, computer equipment, and a so-called black ledger with a code.
When Pavlek will face the Croatian judiciary remains uncertain for now.
