Fotbalisté Pěnčína (JN) mají před s sebou náročnou jarní sezónu a nejen tu. Všechna domácí utkání budou muset hrát mimo svůj fotbalový areál. Ten je totiž k nepoznání. Stavební práce běží na plné obrátky. Výsledkem má být veřejné sportoviště, které bude mít široké využití.

Ukrainian Para Triathletes Embrace ‘Stronger Together’ Spirit in Joint Training Camp with Japanese National Team in Okinawa

The Ukrainian Para triathlon team has joined the Japanese national team for a training camp in Okinawa, Japan, from February 25 to March 5. Faced with challenges in training due to the current situation in Ukraine, the athletes sought a training environment in Japan’s warm and welcoming atmosphere to prepare for upcoming competitions.

“I’m very pleased to be here because people are so kind and are building good relationships with us,” expressed Alisa Korpakchy, one of the Ukrainian Para triathletes. “It’s not usual for us these days, so it’s very pleasant for us.”

Amidst the turmoil back home, finding a stable training environment in Ukraine has not been easy. Korpakchy shared, “It was difficult to adjust mentally at the beginning, and then physically, it was challenging to rest after training. I felt empty in the end under the circumstances. When you are at home, we know safety isn’t guaranteed, but it’s easier to maintain your mental health with people like your family or friends. When you are abroad for a training camp or competition, you are always checking the news, and you are nervous about your people, and it’s very emotionally tough.”

This joint training camp was made possible through the initiative of ‘Sport For Tomorrow,’ a program supported by the Japanese government to promote international cooperation and development through sports. The program aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and foster global exchange and cooperation through sports, building on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. In this project, the Japan Sports Agency provides necessary support to dedicated National Federations (NFs) working to establish training environments in Japan for overseas athletes unable to secure sufficient training environments in their own countries due to domestic situations such as conflicts.

The addition of the Ukrainian team, including two Paralympians Alisa Korpakchy (PTS5) and Vita Oleksiuk (PTVI2), a guide Nataliia Matsupko, and a coach Roman Korol, to the squad also had a positive impact on the Japanese national team, including Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games silver medalist Hideki Uda (PTS4) and bronze medalist Satoru Yoneoka (PTVI1).

Satoru Yoneoka said, “I understand they usually train under tough training environments. Compared to them, we are feeling how blessed we are in such a fulfilling training environment. I’m inspired by how they train single-mindedly.”

His teammate Hideki Uda, added, “I respect only to see that they’re training in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces. Just seeing athletes from different countries swimming and running next to us gives inspiration and motivation. I really appreciate they joined, and it’s a great opportunity for us.”

During their stay in Okinawa, the Ukrainian athletes embraced the opportunity to connect with the local community by visiting a nearby public school, Motobu Elementary School, alongside their Japanese Para triathletes. Together, they engaged with 160 students, offering insights into para triathlon and sharing their experiences in the sport. The visit provided a unique chance for the students to delve into the world of para sports and gain an understanding of the challenges faced by athletes from diverse backgrounds. Welcoming both their national team athletes and those from Ukraine, the children listened attentively to their stories and eagerly embraced the excitement of Paralympic sports.

“It was great to learn that there’s a sport that everyone, including people with disabilities, can enjoy and compete in,” remarked one of the school children after the event, underscoring the profound impact of the cultural exchange.

A lot of students tried to communicate directly with the foreign national team members, employing English language, hand gestures, and even AI translation tools. Some had prepared message boards with warm greetings such as “Welcome to Motobu Elementary School.”

Reflecting on her experience, a local student shared, “Despite speaking different languages, we found ways to communicate through gestures, expressing our emotions, and utilizing automatic translation. I am grateful that they visited us, especially given the current situation in their country.”

“I felt their smiles and kindness,” shared Vita Oleksiuk, a blind triathlete. “It’s a strange feeling, considering Japan is so far from Ukraine, but receiving such immense support makes me feel much closer.” She added that the local children seemed to share a similar sentiment, while Alisa Korpakchy couldn’t hold back tears upon seeing the message board written in Ukrainian.

With their sights set on upcoming races in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Devonport (AUS), the Ukrainian Para triathletes are focused on securing their spots for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 this summer. Despite the challenges they face, they remain determined to excel on the international stage and inspire others through their resilience and dedication.

“I feel like this is a significant birthday present for me,” remarked Vita Oleksiuk, who celebrated her 29th birthday on March 1 in Okinawa. “This camp holds a special place in my heart.”

Words by Tatsuo Ogura, Tokyo 2020 Press manager / currently related with JTU.

Začíná finále ankety o nejpopulárnější fotbalový klub. Mezi smetánku dvanácti nejoblíbenějších se díky hlasům fanoušků dostalo po třech klubech z každého okresu. Kdo získá v rámci celého Libereckého kraje nejvíce hlasů? Premiant se bude v dubnu vyhřívat na titulní stránce Deníků!

On Friday afternoon, 4pm local time, on the edge of the Yas Marina F1 circuit, 55 women will launch themselves and their 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series campaigns, as the horn sounds on this year’s curtain-raiser - WTCS Abu Dhabi.

Among them, all but two of the top 20 who finished that breathless season in Pontevedra last October, where Britain’s Beth Potter secured her first world title, and where Cassandre Beaugrand and Emma Lombardi became the first French women to finish on the Series podium.

But the stories from last year didn’t begin and end with the superb displays and remarkable consistency of that top three. Injury kept Flora Duffy from defending her title, the woman that pushed her all the way in 2022 - Georgia Taylor-Brown - was also a frustrated spectator for a big chunk of the year. There were debut wins and first-time podiums, battles for Olympic rankings and start berths, plus a huge Paris Test Event across a year that had it all on the line.

Now it is showtime again. The biggest names on the planet are ready to go shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since Pontevedra’s Championship Finals and see just where their form and fitness are at the beginning of this massive Olympic year. Clear the schedules, polish the TV and buckle up, it’s business time once again.

The WTCS Abu Dhabi sprint-distance course is everything that a F1 track should offer – fast and hot, rolling hills and huge potential for some lightning split times. The 750m swim transitions to a 5-lap bike of 20km in total, then it’s a rapid two-lap 5km run to the tape. Watch it all play out on TriathlonLive.tv.

From debut gold to undisputed world champion in six moves

Potter laid down the gold standard here last year, pulling away from teammate Sophie Coldwell over the closing stages to record her first Series win. It was a feeling she clearly revelled in, going on to clock four wins in total last campaign on route to becoming World Champion.

All eyes will be on her once more, and it will be fascinating to see how the indefatigable Potter copes with starting the year with a title of a different kind: favourite. It was one that Georgia Taylor-Brown wore here 12 months ago, only for the occasion to take over, the Brit finishing outside the top 10 for the first time since 2018.

US team deep with talent and Olympic potential

For the US, five women start. Taylor Spivey, the bronze finisher here last year, leads the line hungry for more medals and to show she should be the selectors’ pick for Paris. Summer Rappaport returns from injury after a horrific bike crash in the lead up to last year’s Championship Finals wanting to do likewise.

Taylor Knibb is the only US woman confirmed for Paris, Kirsten Kasper and Rio 2016 Champion Gwen Jorgensen complete a powerful fivesome, all with something to prove.

Two young athletes making waves in 2023 were Germany’s Lisa Tertsch and Jeanne Lehair, 6th and 8th respectively overall in the rankings. Only Potter and Beaugrand have amassed more second-period Olympic Qualification points than European Champion Lehair, who seized every opportunity since switching to Luxembourg with both hands, and both know they have the run speed to podium.

Experienced legends alongside wide-eyed hopefuls

There are stories to be written all the way down the 55 names in Abu Dhabi, not least Australia’s Sophie Linn who delivered a supreme win at the Napier World Cup. Having hit her first Series start line just two seasons ago, the versatile Arena Games Series Champion of 2023 would love to build on her brilliant form and break into the top 10.

Bianca Seregni is Italy’s high-flyer and an absolute torpedo in the water, likely to be out front along with the likes of Rappaport and Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes, and it will be fascinating to see where Maya Kingma’s form lies after an illness and injury-hit couple of campaigns since the glittering WTCS Leeds win in 2021 that cemented her place at triathlon’s top table.

Germany’s Laura Lindemann makes her seventh start in Abu Dhabi, though sixth place in 2018 remains her only top 10 result here, Swiss duo Julie Derron and Cathia Schar are always ones to keep an eye on especially on the bike, while the likes of Alberte Kjaer Pedersen (DEN), Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL) and Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) all have the power to have a big impact on the pointy end of any race.

WTCS Abu Dhabi
8 March, 4pm local time
Full start lists here
Watch: TriathlonLive.tv

The World Triathlon Championship Series is back with a bang this weekend, and in the familiar surrounds of the famous Yas Marina F1 track, where a fascinating, fast and furious season opener awaits: WTCS Abu Dhabi.

October’s decisive Pontevedra Championship Finals may feel like a lifetime ago, but the memory of victory will still be fresh for defending champion Dorian Coninx. Of course the Frenchman begins his title defence on Friday wearing the precious number one, but he will also be all too aware of those around him wanting that crown.

As a gauge of how important the race is, only Pierre Le Corre is missing from the top ten men at the end of the last campaign. Indeed only he and Jelle Geens don’t start from 2023’s entire top 20, with the Belgian contender having recently had his first child.

So if there was ever a time to send out a warning message to the best in the world and establish some major credentials for a big 2024, then this is certainly it. As always, you can watch full coverage on TriathlonLive.tv.

Six-stop Series brings risk and reward

The 750m Marina swim transitions down the home straight of the track and then it is out onto the 5 x 4km lap fast and rolling bike course before a 2 x 2.5km lap run to the tape. Last year, Britain’s Alex Yee hoovered that all up in 52m53. Can he produce that early season form again?

It was Coninx following teammate Vincent Luis out of the water 12 months ago, then the two main bike groups came together at the halfway mark and with five minutes to go on the run, Yee broke up the field with a decisive surge up the final hill.

After Coninx’s supreme season management last time around, will anyone be prepared to roll the dice on day one of this Olympic year and force an early breakaway that could keep the likes of Yee at bay for as long as possible?

Old rivalries ready to resurface

Once again the men’s field has quite a split between the top swimmers and top runners and if the former keep the break this time around, the likes of Hayden Wilde, Kristian Blummenfelt and Yee could be put under significant pressure early on.

Wilde delivered some excellent swims across 2023 but began this year with a poor 750m in the ocean at the Napier World Cup, emerging third from last just as he did here 12 months ago. A flat tyre left his race as no more than a hit-out on the run, but the world number two now knows he can push Yee all the way over 5km, and that is just what the fans will be hoping to see on Friday.

Vasco Vilaca also repeatedly proved his run ability in 2023 and was only shaken off over the very closing stages by Yee last year here and followed over the line by two more major contenders this weekend in Manoel Messias and that man Luis. The two-time World Champion will want to make the most of this opportunity to shine for the French selectors with Le Corre not featuring.

Like Luis, one of the most balanced athletes across all three segments is Australia’s Matthew Hauser, winner for the first time in Montreal last year, and similar can be said for Kenji Nener, though Japan’s number one is still chasing his first Series podium.

Eyes on another prize: Paris 2024 Olympic start berths

Hungary will look to defend their third men’s slot at the Paris Olympics. They have Csongor Lehmann (8th), Bence Bicsak (24th) and Mark Devay (26th) inside the top-30, and Gabor Faldum (33rd) close behind. All four start in Abu Dhabi.

Spain are also pushing for a third men’s slot. Antonio Serrat Seoane (14th) and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (20th) should be safe, plus one of Sergio Baxter Cabrera (32nd), David Castro Fajardo (35th) and Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (36th) would need to make it inside the top-30. Of those three, only Castro will race in Abu Dhabi, along with rising star David Cantero del Campo.

The German squad again looks potent, Tim Hellwig and Lass Luhrs leading the way but U23 World Champion Simon Henseleit showing he is capable of fireworks last year.

For the USA Matthew McElroy and Seth Rider are the only two American men starting, the former having scored his best WTCS result in four years here in 2023 and another man eager to stamp his place on the Paris pontoon.

Men’s WTCS Abu Dhabi
8 March, 6PM
Full start list here
Watch on TriathlonLive.tv

Do startu krajského přeboru zbývají Sedmihorkám tři týdny. Rychnov bude o týden dřív hrát odložené podzimní utkání se Mšenem. Zimní pohár pro obě mužstva už skončil, ve vzájemném zápasu vyhrály Sedmihorky 1:0.  Týmy dál pokračují v přípravě. 

Zimní pohár prověřil také mládežníky FK Jablonec a mužstvo Plavů. Vzájemný zápas skončil 1:1. Trenéři si vzájemný duel pochvalovali. Mladí si vyzkoušeli, jak hrát proti zkušenějším. A hráči Plavů si ověřili, že mají slušnou fyzičku a mladým stačí.

Starting on 8th March 2024 in the heat of Abu Dhabi, the 16th season of World Triathlon top-tier action since the dawn of the Series format promises to deliver even more world-class action, high drama and big-name excitement along the road to crowning our 2024 World Triathlon Champions.

Five World Triathlon Championship Series races plus October’s Championship Finals will decide who comes out on top of the world in 2024, when the province of Malaga, Spain, hosts this year’s grand finale.

In 2023, it was Britain’s Beth Potter and Dorian Coninx of France who reigned supreme for the first time and left Pontevedra with the big prize. Across the 2024 campaign, with the addition of an almighty Olympic Games challenge right in the middle of the year for many of the likely title challengers, the door could be open for more fireworks and new faces on the end-of-year podiums.

8-9 MARCH – WTCS ABU DHABI

For the seventh year since 2015, the WTCS curtain will go up and the first blue carpet of the year laid down in Abu Dhabi. And it is back once again to the Yas Marina F1 circuit, where a fast, rolling sprint-distance course will see the athletes thrashing it out to test their off-season training and early-season fitness in both individual and Mixed Relay action.

Rewind 12 months and it was here that a first ever Series win for Beth Potter set her on course for a huge, title-winning season. It was further back in 2019 that compatriot Alex Yee scored his first ever WTCS podium with silver aged just 22 years-old, and he scooped the first of his three wins last year on Yas Island. Expect fast racing and a highly unpredictable podium as the first points of 2024 go on the board in the UAE, and where the likes of Vincent Luis, Gwen Jorgensen and Leonie Periault will be eager to start their years in style as they chase a place in Paris.

11 May – WTCS YOKOHAMA

The rain poured down on the athletes in 2023, a familiar sight for WTCS Yokohama over the years and one that the athletes always respond to, with gutsy performances the norm over the Olympic-distance course. Part of the very first Series way back in 2009 when the greats Lisa Norden and Jan Frodeno took the honours, it was Sophie Coldwell (GBR) and Hayden Wilde (NZL) who came through last year with two comprehensive wins.

A two-lap swim in Yokohama Bay, nine-lap bike and four-lap run await. Fast and flat, it was a scorching 28m50s time for the 10km finale from Alex Yee that saw him win two years ago, and a sub-29 minute target will be on many minds at the first full-distance challenge ahead of Paris 2024.

25 May – WTCS CAGLIARI

The final action of the Olympic Qualification Period is sure to bring the heat to Sardinia and the third WTCS Cagliari since the venue was added to the circuit in 2022. While there will be some big names on the cusp of a Paris berth looking to seize one last opportunity to impress the selection committees, there will be others simply seeking the security of a confidence-boosting display before their Olympic adventure.

Among the latter, Jeanne Lehair was motoring here in 2023 along with Cassandre Beaugrand, while Georgia Taylor-Brown would certainly want a third straight win to help assure her place on the GB team after an injury-hit campaign last year. Alex Yee ran 28m31s with Wilde just four seconds slower over the 10km, but it is the long, shallow water of the beach start that can cause issues early on, and the deceptively tough, rolling bike and run has done for plenty, last year’s race littered with big-name DNFs.

13-14 July – WTCS HAMBURG

Mid-July sees the long-running favourite WTCS Hamburg return in the form of a sprint-distance race and the Mixed Relay World Championships. Among the dependable ingredients that add to the magic are an electric atmosphere, daunting tunnel finish to the swim and Laura Lindemann featuring in the top 10. The German star has five podiums in nine races, excluding last year’s Mixed Relay world title, while French no.1 Beaugrand has two golds and a silver from her last four Hamburg appearances.

Wilde will have happy memories of the city after scoring his first win over Yee here in 2023, but with the Olympics just two weeks away, it looks likely there will be opportunities for some new faces to score podiums and points that could help propel them into the world championship race with two events to go. It’s a tight and intense circuit that requires 100% concentration to succeed here.

14 September – WTCS MONTREAL

It was a first Series win for Australia’s Matthew Hauser in Montreal last year, and a second podium for Brazil’s Manoel Messias, while Katie Zaferes (USA) was back in the WTCS top five for the first time since 2021. This year the action heads to the beautiful Parc Jean Drapeau, where the home of Canadian F1 – the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit – awaits the athletes for individual Sprint and Mixed Relay formats.

Set on Notre Dame Island, the race will pack a fast and flat bike and run off the 750m swim, and the last chance to secure precious points ahead of the all-important Championship Finals. Expect plenty of returning Olympians back to test themselves and looking to set up a blockbuster finale to the 2024 season.

19 & 20 October – CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS MALAGA

That blockbuster finish will come over two days in the Spanish province of Malaga, with the women going out on the Saturday and the men on the Sunday in search of the world titles. As Dorian Coninx proved in 2023 and Leo Bergere in 2022, the extra points available at the Finals can be the decisive factor, both athletes securing the world championships with their only wins of those seasons, so get ready for more edge-of-the-seat action in Spain.

The promise of an original course, huge crowds and the anticipation and tension that come hand-in-hand with the Finals make for an intoxicating prospect to wrap up the WTCS action in 2024. Will the French continue their domination of the men’s competition? Will there be another brand-new women’s champion spraying the champagne at the close of the year?

Follow all the action throughout 2024 on TriathlonLive.tv and across World Triathlon social channels to stay close to the action.

A packed calendar of Para triathlon racing will get underway this weekend with the first World Triathlon Para Cup of the season. While many will already be gearing up for the Paralympic Games in Paris, there will be plenty of Para triathlon action to track in the coming months.

8 March – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP ABU DHABI
As was the case in 2023, Abu Dhabi will host the first World Para Cup of the season. Look for the likes of Florian Brungraber H2 (AUT, PTWC) to match his victory from last year’s event as he attempts to set an early marker ahead of the Paralympics in September. Eva María Moral Pedrero H1 (ESP, PTWC) will be another defending gold medallist from the 2023 edition to keep tabs on.

15 March – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA SERIES DEVONPORT
A week later, the World Triathlon Para Series will spark into life. Devonport (AUS) returns after hosting a stop in both 2023 and 2020, and the pressure will be on the home team.
Jack Howell (AUS, PTS5) and David Bryant (AUS, PTS5) will likely carry a lot of the men’s hopes for the Australian contingent in Devonport. Last year, they delivered a barnstorming clash in which Bryant came out victorious. At the recent Oceania Para-triathlon Championships, though, Howell took the win. The battle of the Australians could therefore light up the first round of the World Para Series.

21 April – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP YENISEHIR
The World Para Cup action will then return in Yenisehir (TUR). It will be the first occasion in which the Turkish city has hosted a Para triathlon event at the world level. After successfully welcoming Europe Cup races, it will no doubt deliver another exciting stop on the Para Cup circuit.

11 May – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA SERIES YOKOHAMA
Yokohama will represent the first instance of the 2024 campaign in which the World Para Series shares the stage with the World Triathlon Championship Series. Among the talents likely to start, Jumpei Kimura (JPN, PTWC) could be one to produce some fireworks in Yokohama. Last season, he powered to victory at the same race with a spellbinding performance.

A quartet of World Para Cups will then carry the season through May and June with stops in Samarkand (UZB), Vigo (ESP), Taranto (ITA) and Besancon (FRA).

18 MAY – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP SAMARKAND
Samarkand will be a new stop for the world’s best Para triathletes, site of the Asia Para triathlon Championships in 2023. Saidakbar Goziev (UZB, PTS2) struck gold on his international debut in there last season and could therefore be primed for a big performance when the Para Cup arrives later this year.

1 June – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP VIGO
Vigo is another new location on the World Para Cup circuit. Located in the northwest of Spain, close to Pontevedra, the host of the 2023 World Triathlon Para Championships, it is also home to one of the sport’s all-time greats: PTVI Paralympic Champion and one of the favourites for another gold in Paris, Susana Rodriguez B1.

8 June – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP TARANTO
Taranto made its debut as a World Para Cup in 2023. With the reigning women’s world champion in the women’s PTVI class, Francesca Tarantello B3, hailing from Italy, Taranto could well see a home world champion grace the start line.

15 June – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP BESANCON
Whereas Vigo and Taranto are relatively new events to the calendar, Besancon is a very well-established stop on the circuit. A dazzling array of French talents, led by world champion Alexis Hanquinquant (PTS4), will no doubt provide the spectacle once again as France gets ready to host the world’s top athletes.

22 June – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA SERIES SWANSEA
A week later, the World Para Series will return with stops in Swansea (GBR) and Montreal (CAN). The two events will represent the final races of the Paralympic qualification window. As such, several last-ditch qualification attempts can be expected. Britain’s defending Paralympic champion, Lauren Steadman (PTS5) will likely be among the names to watch in Swansea. However, at last year’s World Para-triathlon Championships Steadman had to settle for bronze behind her compatriot Claire Cashmore, who claimed the silver medal, and the imperious Grace Norman (USA).

29 June – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA SERIES MONTREAL
The Paralympic qualification cycle reaches its climax in Montreal, and it was here Maurits Morsink (NED) stormed to a dramatic victory in the PTS2 race last year as he overhauled Mohamed Lahna (USA). Further tense finishes could be on the agenda as the final points are awarded that will dictate who is able to stamp their ticket to Paris.

13 July – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP TATA
Thereafter, with Paralympic qualification decided, a new Para Cup will take place in Tata (HUN). As with Yenisehir, Samarkand and Vigo, the Tata event will represent an exciting new chapter in the growth of para-triathlon.

12/13 October – WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP ALHANDRA
Finally, the World Para Cup in Alhandra (POR) will then represent the only world-level race between the racing in Paris and the World Para-triathlon Championships in Malaga (ESP).

A busy season of Para triathlon racing therefore awaits. Follow the action throughout 2024 on TriathlonLive.tv and across World Triathlon social channels.

Dalšími zápasy napříč skupinami pokračoval Zimní pohár Libereckého kraje. Z nich už vzešli vítězové skupin, kteří se potkají v dalších utkáních. Svoje soupeře se dozvědí v nejbližších dnech. Pohár končí před startem mistrovských soutěží. 

Úvodní zápas jarní části sezony ČFL, skupiny B, odehrálo jablonecké „béčko“ na hřišti ústeckého VIAGEMU. Aktivita v úvodu byla na domácí straně, do první větší šance se ale dostali hosté v desáté minutě. Šance se pak střídaly na obou stranách. Týmy se ale rozešly remízou 1:1.

Bod za remízu 1:1 berou jablonečtí fotbalisté v souboji s tabulkovým sousedem z Hradce Králové. Jablonec brzy prohrával, vyrovnal po penaltě Chramosty, jenže při tlaku přišel o vyloučeného stopera Hurtada a utkání skončilo dělbou bodů.

Steve McKenna a Chelsea Sodaro zaznamenali vítězství na Ironmanu Nový Zéland. McKenna předvedl vynikající výkon ve všech třech disciplínách a po napínavém souboji zvítězil s časem 8:01:13. V ženské kategorii pak Chelsea Sodaro dominovala od začátku do konce. Český závodník Petr Vabroušek si v kategorii M50-54 vybojoval skvělé 2. místo.

Do A týmu Pěnčína (JN) přišel Pavel Patka po devítiletém působení v Německu. Zkušeností z vyšších soutěží má na rozdávání. Podzim zakončilo jeho mužstvo na prvním místě krajského přeboru. A vzdát se ho určitě hned tak nehodlá.

V Ostravě se konalo Mistrovství České republiky juniorů, juniorek, dorostenců a dorostenek v atletice. Tento závod má přezdívku Gigant, protože na něm startuje vždy velký počet závodníků. Letos jich bylo necelých osm stovek.

Olympic years are different. Having crept towards the shining moment with painstakingly small steps over the course of years, all of a sudden everything moves at once.

For all stakeholders of sport, from fans to organisers to those in the media, the sight of the Olympic Games on the horizon is enough to set pulses racing. For the athletes, the effects are even greater still. Everything is brighter, faster, more intense, and the final steps to the Olympics become a blur.

Yet no two athletes’ journeys to the Games are alike. As such, World Triathlon is happy to unveil the opening instalment of the Paths to Paris series in which we trace the roads taken by some of the best triathletes in the world.

Australia’s triathlon stars back on the rise

Today, we start with an athlete more than capable of winning Olympic gold this summer. He knows it. His rivals know it. Crucially, his country knows it too.

When Matthew Hauser (AUS) steps onto the pontoon at the Paris Olympic Games, then, he will do so with the eyes of an expectant home audience upon him.

“I’ve had a couple of bike crashes,” said Hauser, when asked how his training has been. “I had a delayed concussion and a week or two off training which wasn’t fun. It isn’t all smooth sailing but if it was it would be boring.”

Thus far, his path to Paris has been anything but boring.

COVID derails Test Event plans

After storming to a maiden WTCS win last summer in a performance that put his name on the lips of the entire triathlon community, Hauser was sidetracked by a bout of COVID-19 that forced him out of the Paris Test Event. He did not simply lose out on a chance to scope the Olympic course. He also missed the first opportunity to qualify for the Australian Olympic team.

“Obviously I would have loved to have been in that race in Paris. With Alex (Yee) having such an amazing performance it was definitely tough to sit in my hotel room and watch the livestream.”

“It wasn’t just a case of being sick. I couldn’t get out of bed which made it a little easier to swallow.”

Over the subsequent weeks, his recovery proved tougher than anticipated. At times, he struggled with his breathing, particularly when exerting himself. The second Olympic selection race, though, was around the corner at the WTCS Final in Pontevedra.

“Pontevedra was a bit of a scramble,” admitted Hauser. “But it kind of made me have that killer mentality, where there’s no room for error. I had to nail this race and nail every bit of it to get the qualification standard, which was a top-8.”

He got out to a great start as he led the field out of the water. The second test came on the bike.

“We worked super well on the bike in the front pack. The French were just driving it and I was trying to help where I could. Marten Van Riel was pushing it to the point where he was almost dropping all of us.”

In the end, Hauser did enough to finish 8th and book his place on the team.

“I remember crossing the line and breaking down in tears with my coach. We kind of embraced with a hug and it was a really special moment. Despite all the ups and downs in the year we still managed to tick our major goal of Olympic selection.”

The pieces of the puzzle come together

Now able to look ahead to Paris, Hauser took note of how the race panned out in Pontevedra. The front pack managed to drop favourites Hayden Wilde and Alex Yee after pushing the swim and the bike. Given the same happened at the 2022 WTCS Final, Hauser took the lessons of the races to heart.

“The most important thing is everyone working cohesively together and having that real belief that the hard work you’re putting in can eventuate into a really successful result. It’s shown on the results page: two times at major championships it has worked.”

“It’s not just up to a sub-29 minute run. A few different factors will have to come together to win the race.”

As things stand, Hauser is one of the vanishingly few men in the WTCS field capable of both being the first man out of the water and of recording a field leading run split. Indeed, he accomplished both feats on his way to his maiden WTCS win in Montreal.

In light of his success and ability, the Australian audience will have high hopes for him in Paris.

To date, five Australian women have won Olympic medals. No Australian man has yet done so. The men have enjoyed plenty of success over the years. Peter Robertson won a hat-trick of world titles in the 2000s, Brad Kahlefeldt took gold at the Commonwealth Games as part of a superb 2006 season, and Jacob Birtwhistle picked up the mantle by claiming WTCS race wins.

Now it is Hauser’s turn to shoulder the expectation.

“It fills me with a lot of pride that I have the opportunity to continue that success and to hold the banner for the new wave of triathlon talent out of Australia. I’m embracing it.”

Moreover, he drew lessons from his previous Olympic experience in Tokyo. A disappointing team showing prompted a fall-out in the triathlon community at home.

“It changed my approach to the Games a little bit in the fact that I want to make sure I take every opportunity with both hands. I was probably a little bit young and naïve heading into Tokyo and probably expected more than I could deliver. That was a big eye-opener.”

Equally, in Tokyo Hauser had the chance to see how gold medals across sports lifted the Australian team.

“I’m hungry to provide those empowering and uplifting moments for Australia.”

Australia expects - Hauser ready to deliver

Considering its population size, Australia has long punched above its weight. The country has celebrated world champions in an array of sports and has been a major player in the overall Olympic medal table. Representing a country that sets so much in store by way of cultural identity against its sporting success therefore comes with a unique type of pressure.

Hauser, though, shrugged it off.

“It goes hand in hand with having such a relaxed vibe and being such a young and vibrant country.”

Likewise, he remained level-headed regarding the prospect of becoming the first Australian man to win an Olympic medal in triathlon.

“It would mean the world to me. It’s what every four year cycle is about. If you’re not striving to win or get a medal or be up there in a race then what are you doing? Sixty guys are going to line up on the start line in Paris and essentially go for gold.”

“Everyone that has invested so much time in me and my journey, I want to do it for them.”

“But I’m not putting a medal on a pedestal. Knowing who I need to be and where I need to be physically and mentally to put my best foot forward on the day is what I’m striving for.”

Recent history has shown that Hauser cannot expect smooth sailing all the way to Paris. When he gets there, though, he will be prepared for anything that comes his way.

Australia expects. And Matt Hauser is ready to deliver.

Biatlonisté ještě nekončí, přesněji končí pouze v domácích podmínkách, ale v zahraničí je čekají ještě další závody. Vedoucí SKP Kornspitz Jablonec Jan Matouš už ale ví, že se letos nebude konat slavnostní biatlonová exhibice. Důvodem je nedostatek sněhu.