Ondřej Moravec in the last race at the World Championships in Pokljuka.
Petr Slavík / Czech biathlon
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So won’t your daughter miss seeing her dad on TV every week?
Not at all, he’s not much of a biathlon fan. She either doesn’t like it or she sleeps. Rather, she said she was looking for sticks, and when I got back we’ll be toasting. When I left, she didn’t ask when I would be back, but if this was the last time I was leaving. And it’s annoying to think like that.
Last year, Michal Šlesingr said goodbye in Nové Město na Moravě. Do you expect nostalgia to hit you too?
I guess so, I just don’t know how much. For example, in Pokljuka, when I was on the announcement after the Makula gold medal (Markéta Davidová), I ran out of a lot of things and I was sad to experience it for the last time. It will probably come even now, considering that I have been doing something for twenty years, because the first junior championship was in 2001 in Russia. It’s a long way to go, and it would be weird if it didn’t come.
Only you won’t enjoy the farewell with the fans either…
Probably none of us imagined her that way. But I won’t postpone the end because of that… Even here in Nové Město na Moravě, I’ve now seen a lot of pictures of the atmosphere when Gabina won, so I’m sorry that people won’t be here.
What is your strongest experience from Nové Město na Moravě?
I will never forget the World Cup in 2013, when the first race was a mixed relay and I won my first big senior medal. But I will also recall fourth place in the twenty-kilometer race a few days later. I didn’t realize it then, but I’m still sorry.
Nevertheless, you have three medals from the Olympics and six from the World Championships, no one else from the Czech biathletes has such a balance. Did you consider yourself more of a talent or a hard worker?
At the beginning, I was definitely a hard worker, although without some dose of talent I would not be able to do it, of course, every athlete needs to be able to collect medals from the World Cup. But rather, my philosophy was that when I had a goal, I went hard for it.
The Czech biathletes won five medals at the Olympic Games in Sochi. From left: Ondřej Moravec, Gabriela Soukalová, Veronika Vítková and Jaroslav Soukup.
Milan Malíček, Right
Which of those biathlon-filled goals do you value the most?
The medals from the Olympics are probably the most, although we managed to win the world championship with the relay.
You achieved an individual victory in the World Cup once, in 2013 in Oslo.
For that, I am very happy that I managed to win at least one saint. And I also met the King of Norway, which was such a cherry. After all, I have had enough silver and bronze medals, but I was probably not a completely winning type. (smile)
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You also had a more difficult period, you didn’t even nominate for the World Cup before the Vancouver Olympics. What started you up then?
Before, I put pressure on myself that I couldn’t handle. But Ondra Rybář came to the team, the training changed rapidly and probably my thinking. We found another way, there was Boušek, Jarda Soukup, then Gábina joined and the team was so strong that it pushed each member to push their limits. It also played a big role.
Is it easier for you to know that Czech biathlon now has a talented generation of juniors and wouldn’t have to leave a hole behind you?
Certainly, last year it was clear that the team was working well, we trained together over the summer. It probably won’t be right away, but the future is there. Although our results are not what we imagined now, we hope it will be good. The boys have a lot of work to do, but they can easily do what I did.
Do you already know what you will be doing in a week at this time?
Normally I would be training in our quarry in the morning, now I don’t know. Anyway, I won’t have to deal with what he does to me when I’m out for three hours. One is selfishly thinking only of oneself, if one should not rest… Now I will have a free field of activity, I am looking forward to it.
And if you look further on longer-term plans?
I don’t have you yet. Extremely, I didn’t want to think about it, even though I could. So far, I have set it so that the priority for me is to be at home. My daughter is five years old and I almost didn’t spend time at home with her, it flies terribly. So I want to spend time with my family, I won’t do anything for half a year. I do not want to draw any hasty conclusion, which I would regret, I want to make a good decision.
The chairman of the association, Jiří Hamza, said that he would like to offer you a coaching position, but that does not go completely together with family life…
We talked about it with him and Ondra Rybář, I really appreciate the fact that I have support from them, but now I really don’t want to travel. I would be able to pass on some wisdom, I have a lot of experience, although no sports education. I think I have a gift to be able to describe my feelings, which is very important. But I really don’t want to do it now.
What has sport put into your life after your career?
Actually, I can’t do much other than him. But he gave me discipline, the ability to admit my mistake and manage time. When I plan something, I go for it one hundred percent. That’s why I want me to do whatever it takes to fill me and I know it leads somewhere.
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| The program of the 2nd part of the World Championships in biathletes in Nové Město na Moravě |
| Thursday |
| 17:30 men’s sprint |
| Friday |
| 17:30 women’s sprint |
| Saturday |
| 14:45 men’s fighter, 17:30 women’s fighter jet |
| Sunday |
| 10:25 mixed relay, 13:45 mixed doubles relay |
| Sprints are broadcast by ČT 2, other races by ČT sport. |
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