He narrowly missed last year's final, and now he's saying, "I'm gonna keep my head down this time".

Gregor Rakovič will compete alongside Anže Hribar as Slovenia's main contender at the world gymnastics championships in Rotterdam. Last year, Rakovič finished tenth in his debut on the pommel horse at the World Championships, narrowly missing the final. Before that, he placed fifth at the European Championships. This season has not gone entirely according to plan, but Rakovič aims to show he can finish strongly at the world level. Recent preparations before departure have brought him more calmness and self-confidence. After returning from Paris, he allowed himself some lighter training due to fatigue, then refocused on routines on the pommel horse. His current success rate during training is around 95 percent, which he considers a positive sign ahead of the most important competition of the season. "I am very happy I have calmed down regarding the whole situation this year. I realized I can still finish the season well, so I will give my best at the world championships. I want to chase a new record score," said the 21-year-old gymnast. His goal is clear: perform well on the pommel horse and qualify for the top eight. Last year, he was tenth at his first World Championship appearance, so he wants to take another step forward. He acknowledges the competition will be tougher than last season. "I always aim to improve on what I've achieved. I would like to better last year's result and qualify for the final with a record score. If I perform the routine as I do in training, I believe I can achieve that. I think I could be near the final," Rakovič assessed. Success will depend not just on the difficulty of the routine but also its execution. "The best impression comes from routines that feel smooth and effortless, even though they require a lot of training and precision," he said. On the pommel horse, even small mistakes can significantly affect the final score, so he must combine the difficulty of the routine with reliable execution. "Heads will be busy, but I think I can control them this time," he added. If he is close to qualifying for the final after the qualifiers, he plans to stay focused and avoid overthinking the outcome. He feels physically prepared despite ongoing pain in his wrist, which has been a recurring issue this season. He does not have major health concerns and feels ready for the competition. Before the World Championships, Rakovič completed his studies. In September, he successfully graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor, marking an important personal milestone outside of sports arenas. Now he can fully focus on concluding his gymnastics season and competing in Rotterdam, where he hopes to improve on last year’s tenth-place finish and make his first-ever World Championship final.