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Najhitrejši Slovenec v prvem obdobju po osvoboditvi je vrhunec dosegel na EP 1958 v Stockholmu, kjer je osvojil srebrno kolajno. Tedaj ko še ni bilo SP, ga je premagal le svetovni rekorder, Nemec Martin Lauer. Atletiki se je posvetil pozno, pri 19 letih, vseeno pa je bil tehnično dovršen tekač čez ovire. Kandidat za kolajno je bil že na EP 1954 v Bernu, a je po slabem štartu podrl kar sedem ovir in pristal na 4. mestu. Leta do EP 1958 so bila zlato obdobje Celjana, rojenega na Kozjanskem. Nanizal je 5. mesto na OI 1956 v Melbournu in številne zmage na mitingih po Evropi in meddržavnih dvobojih. Dvakrat je postal svetovni študentski prvak, kar 12-krat pa balkanski. Ponaša pa se tudi z 10 državnimi rekordi na 110 m z ovirami, 100 in 200 m. Športnik Jugoslavije v letih 1958 in 1959 je požel kar 15 naslovov prvaka Jugoslavije in 11 Slovenije.
The fastest Slovenian runner in the period following World War II achieved his best result at the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm, where he won bronze. In a time when there was no World Championships, he was beaten only by the then world record holder Martin Lauer of Germany. Lorger was a late bloomer in athletics, entering the sport at the age of 19. But he was a natural runner and hurdles were his speciality. Lorger eyed his first medal as early as at the 1954 European Championships in Bern, but seven felled hurdles would see him finish fourth. He would not be disappointed again four years later. In addition to his European medal, Lorger took fifth place at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and recorded numerous wins at meetings in Europe. The 12-time Balkan and 15-time Yugoslav champion who set 10 national records in the 110 metres hurdles and the 100 and 200 metres, he was named Yugoslavia’s Best Male Athlete in 1958 and 1959.