In Sports News this Monday: Czech high jumper Jaroslav Bába is left frustrated after a poor performance at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin leaves him joint fifth, while the Czech team’s head trainer quits after 16 years; Patrik Eliáš becomes Czech ice hockey player of the year for the first time at 33; and Czech driver Jan Kopecký comes first in the Barum Rally Zlín.
High jumper Bába misses out on medals after frustrating performance in Berlin
Jaroslav Bába, photo: CTK
The Czech high jumper Jaroslav Bába was in good form ahead of the World Championships in Berlin, and his hopes of taking a medal must have risen further as many of the favourites performed poorly in Friday night’s final. However, in the end Bába himself was to suffer disappointment, finishing joint fifth after a best effort of only 223 cm. The high-jumper, who took bronze at the Athens Olympics at the age of 19, had this to say after the event.
“I know I didn’t achieve what I could have. I didn’t perform my best, I messed up and I’m annoyed about it. Not so much about coming fifth, but about my performance – I know I could have jumped a lot higher and things could have turned out a lot differently. It’s a pity.”
Czech team’s head trainer quits after disappointing worlds
Václav Fišer, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic took only one medal in Berlin, silver for Barbora Špotáková in the javelin, and with only two exceptions the country’s athletes failed to match their season’s best performances. The head trainer of the Czech team, Václav Fišer, said results had fallen some way below expectations, and announced he was quitting after over 16 years in the post.
Patrik Eliáš is named Czech ice hockey player of year for first time
Patrik Eliáš, photo: CTK
At the age of 33, Patrik Eliáš has received the Golden Stick award for Czech ice hockey player of the year for the first time in his career. The award has in recent years been dominated by Jaromír Jágr, who has won it nine times, including the last four years in a row. At Saturday night’s awards ceremony in Karlovy Vary, Eliáš said he was honoured to be included among the legends of Czech hockey who have previously received the Golden Stick. New Jersey Devils’ all-time leading scorer also told reporters he is already thinking about the Olympics in Vancouver next year, while going into coaching is among his more long-term plans.
Czech driver Jan Kopecký wins Barum Rally Zlín
Jan Kopecký, photo: CTK
Jan Kopecký has become the ninth Czech driver ever to win the Barum Rally Zlín. Kopecký, a member of the Škoda Motorsport team, said the “Barumka” (as the race is referred to in Czech) was a milestone for all Czech rally drivers, and he was no exception. It was also his first triumph in an Intercontinental Rally Challenge race.
