Neumannova wins first Winter Olympics medal for Czech Republic

By Ian Willoughby

Katerina Neumanova

In a sport packed weekend the biggest story has to be the Czech Republic's first Winter Olympics medal. The cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova won the bronze in the 15 kilometre free race on Saturday, coming in 8.3 seconds behind first place Stefania Belmondo of Italy. Neumannova spoke to Czech Radio by phone afterwards.

"I could see that the first two places were already decided but that I could win the bronze. There were three of us in the lead and then Chepalova passed me out at the stadium, so things were looking black for me. I didn't have so much strength - whatever strength I did have was more moral than anything else. I don't know where I got the strength from but I knew that it was a question of an Olympic medal and it's worth dragging more out of yourself than you actually have in you."

Other Czechs in action so far include Lukas Bauer, whose seventh place in the 30 kilometre free cross-country has won him a lot of praise at home.