Sports News

In Sports News: Katerina Kurkova has won the first Czech medal at the Athens Olympics - we have the reactions of both the shooter herself and her trainer father; tennis number one Jiri Novak has beaten Tim Hemnan in Athens, while Martina Navratilova is enjoying her first games. In other sports: Robert Lang has been named Czech ice hockey player of the year, and football goalkeeper Petr Cech has got off to a great star at glamour club Chelsea.

Sports News

Kurkova makes headlines with first Czech medal at Athens Olympics

Katerina Kurkova, photo: CTK

Monday's papers are dominated by photos of Katerina Kurkova, who has won the Czech Republic's first medal at the Olympic Games in Athens. The 20-year-old shooter wept tears of joy when she took bronze in the 10-metre air rifle event on Saturday. Kurkova, who despite her young age has been both world and European champion, said she started to enjoy herself as soon as she reached the final.

"All the pressure fell away and I thought 'great - at worst I can come eighth'. Then I just took it as fun, and thought I'll just do my best and take it as it comes. The bronze medal is great - I would have been happy whatever the colour or even if I hadn't won anything. But still the feeling was something else when the Czech flag was raised, and that wouldn't have happened if I'd come fourth and left empty-handed."

Katerina Kurkova, photo: CTK

The second the competition ended Katerina Kurkova ran to embrace her father and trainer Petr Kurka, who was himself a world champion in his day, but never won an Olympic medal. He was, understandably, extremely proud of his daughter.

"She's a real hero, because I'm sure you all saw how high the pressure was at the beginning of the final, and it never let up. We were all incredibly nervous right up to the very end, and at one point I was ready to collapse. But now I'm very happy, we're all overjoyed."

Novak upsets British hopes with win over Henman

Jiri Novak, photo: CTK

Czech tennis number one Jiri Novak caused an upset by beating fourth seed Tim Henman of Great Britain in the first round. Novak, ranked 27th, won 6-3 6-3 with a racket in the red, white and blue of the Czech tricolour. Barbora Strycova, however, was less fortunate against world women's number one Justine Henin-Hardenne, going down 3-6 4-6. And Czech-born Martina Navratilova received a standing ovation both before and after winning her first ever match at the Olympics, in the doubles. The 47-year-old says she is thoroughly enjoying being part of the US team.

Day to forget for Czech swimmers in Athens

Kvetoslav Svoboda, photo: CTK

Sunday was not a day to remember for Czech swimming. Kvetoslav Svoboda just missed out on one of the eight places in the final of the 200 metres freestyle: he came ninth in the semi-finals after flagging in the last 50 metres. Illona Hlavackova, meanwhile, came 12th in the semi-finals for the 100 metres backstroke.

Dvorak to compete despite health problems

Decathlete Tomas Dvorak says he is going to Athens, despite having persistent problems with his Achilles tendon. The three-times world champion's best result at the Olympics is a bronze from Atlanta in 1996.

Robert Lang named Czech Ice Hockey Player of the Year

Forward Robert Lang was named Czech Ice Hockey Player of the Year in Karlovy Vary on Saturday night. But Lang didn't make it to the Golden Hockey Stick awards, unable to catch a flight due to Hurricane Charley. Meanwhile, Jaromir Jagr has said he will, after all, take part in the hockey World Cup, despite not being fully fit.

Cech keeps clean sheet on Chelsea debut

Czech international goalkeeper Petr Cech made a dream debut for Chelsea in the English Premiership on Sunday; the 22-year-old kept a clean sheet in a 1:0 win over Manchester United in front of 40,000 fans at Stamford Bridge. And Cech's international colleague Rene Bolf also impressed at the weekend, scoring two headed goals for his new club Auxerre.

Poborsky to captain Czechs in record 100th international

Banik Ostrava - Jablonec, photo: CTK

Both Cech and Bolf are in the Czech squad for a friendly in Prague on Wednesday against Greece, the team who knocked them out in the semi-finals at Euro 2004. Karel Poborsky will captain the side, in his 100th international - he's the first Czech player to ever reach that magic number.

Brno lead Czech league as favourites fail to impress

Brno lead the Czech league: their 1:0 away win over Blsany on Sunday gave them six points out of six. But champions Banik Ostrava were lucky to take a point at Jablonec, coming from behind through Michal Papadopolous in a 1:1 draw. Banik have started the season disastrously, and were hammered 5:0 by Leverkusen in a Champions League qualifier last week. Title favourites Sparta Prague lost 1:0 to Hungary's Ferencvaros in the Champions League, but managed - just about - to beat Drnovice in the Czech league on Saturday, thanks to a late winner from Tomas Jun.