Prague, Jan 18 (CTK) – The Czech Olympic Committee (COV) nominated 85 winter athletes for the forthcoming South Korean Olympic Games on Thursday, but still four more athletes may be added to the Czech team.
Martin Doktor, head of the Czech Olympic delegation, said there were a number of athletes who may win medals, but he did not want to name anybody so that they would not get under pressure.
The Czechs seem to pin their hopes especially on speed skater Martina Sablikova, who won three gold medals in long distance races at the previous two Olympics, snowboarders Eva Samkova and Ester Ledecka, the latter of whom will also compete in Alpine skiing.
Biathlete Gabriela Koukalova, who was highly successful in the last season, recently announced she would not go to Pyeongchang due to calf muscle troubles.
The Olympic village will open on February 1 and the opening ceremony of the Games will be held on February 9.
At the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, 93 athletes represented the Czech Republic, which has been the highest number so far. Four years ago, the Czech athletes won two gold, four silver and two bronze Olympic medals, which made the 2014 Sochi event the most successful Winter Games for them. Moreover, the Czech female biathlete team is to get a bronze medal additionally due to disqualification of their competitors.
Czech winter athletes nominated for 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics:
Biathlon (8 nominated/11 in final nomination):
Women: Marketa Davidova, Jessica Jislova, Eva Puskarcikova, Veronika Vitkova.
Two of following three women will be added: Lucie Charvatova, Lea Johanidesova, Veronika Zvaricova.
Men: Michal Krcmar, Ondrej Moravec, Michal Slesingr, Adam Vaclavik.
One of the following men will be added: Ondrej Hosek, Lukas Kristejn, Tomas Krupcik, Jaroslav Soukup.
Bobsleigh (9/8+1 substitute):
Dominik Dvorak, David Egydy, Jakub Havlin, Jaroslav Kopriva, Jakub Nosek, Jan Sindelar, Jan Stoklaska (substitute), Dominik Suchy, Jan Vrba.
Figure skating (5/5):
Men: Michal Brezina.
Ice dancing team: Cortney Mansourova, Michal Ceska.
Pairs: Anna Duskova, Martin Bidar.
Ice hockey (25/25):
Goalkeepers: Patrik Bartosak, Pavel Francouz, Dominik Furch.
Defencemen: Michal Jordan, Jan Kolar, Tomas Kundratek, Vojtech Mozik, Jakub Nakladal, Ondrej Nemec, Adam Polasek, Ondrej Vitasek.
Forwards: Michal Birner, Roman Cervenka, Martin Erat, Milan Gulas, Roman Horak, Petr Koukal, Jan Kovar, Dominik Kubalik, Tomas Mertl, Lukas Radil, Michal Repik, Jiri Sekac, Michal Vondrka, Tomas Zohorna.
Luge (6/6):
Men: Ondrej Hyman.
Women: Tereza Noskova.
Pairs: Antonin Broz, Lukas Broz; Matej Kvicala, Jaromir Kudera.
Skiing, snowboarding (24/28 – Ledecka is nominated 2x):
Alpine skiing:
Women: Martina Dubovska, Ester Ledecka.
One of the following women will be added: Katerina Paulathova, Gabriela Capova.
Men: Krystof Kryzl.
Cross-country skiing:
Women: Katerina Berouskova, Petra Novakova.
Men: Martin Jaks, Petr Knop, Michal Novak.
One of the following men will be added: Adam Fellner, Ales Razym, Miroslav Rypl.
Freestyle skiing:
Nikol Kucerova (ski cross; Czechs will not occupy their second position).
Nordic combined:
Lukas Danek, Miroslav Dvorak, Ondrej Pazout, Tomas Portyk.
Ski jumping:
Lukas Hlava, Cestmir Kozisek, Roman Koudelka, Vojtech Stursa, Viktor Polasek.
Snowboarding:
Zeny: Ester Ledecka (parallel disciplines), Vendula Hopjakova, Eva Samkova (snowboard cross), Sarka Pancochova, Katerina Vojackova (slopestyle, big air).
Men: Jan Kubicik (snowboard cross), Petr Horak (slopestyle, big air).
Speed skating (3/3):
Karolina Erbanova, Martina Sablikova, Nikola Zdrahalova.
Substitute Natalie Kerschbaummayr may be added.
Speed skating short track (1/1):
Michaela Sejpalova.
Note: Nominations of skiers, snowboarders and biathletes will be added after January 21 when countries may gain unoccupied positions.
