In Sports News: Roman Sebrle become the oldest man to win the heptathlon at the European Indoors Athletics Championships, his third title in a row; long-jumper Denisa Scerbova takes her first medal at senior level; Martina Slabikova is the first Czech ever to win the speed skating World Cup; and Lukas Bauer is satisfied with fifth in the last race of the Nordic World Ski Championships.
Three European Indoor titles in a row for Sebrle...
Roman Sebrle, photo: CTK
The biggest success for the Czech Republic at the European Indoors Championships in England's Birmingham came from Roman Sebrle, who at 32 became the oldest man to win the heptathlon title. On Sunday Sebrle snatched victory from Russia's Aleksandr Pogorelov in the last discipline, the 1,000m, to make it three titles in a row for the Czech.
"It's excellent. I'm absolutely satisfied. To defend a title is always far harder than winning for the first time, because when you first go for gold you'd be satisfied with second or third place. Luckily I've got to that level where I'm only satisfied with gold."
...while Scerbova takes her first medal at senior level
Denisa Scerbova, photo: CTK
Of the younger generation of Czech athletes, Denisa Scerbova was the most successful in Birmingham, taking bronze in the long jump. The twenty-year-old also has gold in the junior world championships to her name. But Scerbova says coming third in the European Indoors means more.
"Definitely - that my first final at senior level would end like this...The junior title means a lot to me, but this senior medal is a lot bigger. At first I was really nervous but I was OK after a couple of jumps. And luckily things worked out the way they did."
Sablikova becomes first Czech to win speed-skating World Cup
Martina Sablikova, photo: CTK
Martina Sablikova has become the first Czech ever to win the speed skating World Cup. The 19-year-old confirmed top spot in the season-long competition, when she came first in the 3,000 m in Canada's Calgary on Sunday. It was the third first place in a row for the girl from Zdar nad Sazavou.
Czechs fifth overall at Nordic World Ski Championships
Lukas Bauer, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic came fifth overall in the medals' table at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Japan's Sapporo, largely thanks to Katerina Neumannova, who took gold in her last major tournament. The last event of the championships on Sunday was the men's 50km, with the best of the Czechs Lukas Bauer, who came in fifth. Bauer said he was satisfied with the result, given the fact he had contracted a virus and was not fully fit.
Sparta and Ceske Budejovice off to good starts in ice hockey Extraliga playoffs
Sparta Prague - Hame Zlin, photo: CTK
The Czech ice hockey Extraliga playoffs are now in full swing. Sparta Prague have opened up a 2:0 lead on games over Zlin, while Ceske Budejovice enjoy the same advantage over Slavia Prague. The two other Extraliga clashes, Liberec versus Trinec and Pardubice versus Znojmo, were due to begin on Monday evening, after the recording of this programme.
Football season to resume next weekend
Tomas Repka, photo: CTK
Czech football fans are counting down the days until the league resumes next weekend after the winter break. Sparta Prague have perhaps made the most headlines during the break, buying players like Pavel Mares and Marek Kulic, and appointing Tomas Repka captain, after Tomas Sivok joined Udinese.
