Updates: 01.08.2021 22:39
Released: 01.08.2021, 22:37
Prague – Kayaker Jiří Prskavec, after winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, enjoyed the moment when, among other things, the Czech basketball team applauded him in the Olympic Village, while hurrying to training. Silver canoeist Lukáš Rohan did not receive such applause, the medal was not expected from him much, but he himself enjoyed the celebrations of other athletes and appreciated the uniqueness of the Czech Olympic team.
While Prskavec gave an interview after a successful water slalom, the head of marketing of the Czech Olympic Committee, Tomáš Houska, came after him with the words that he had to run, because the basketball team has been waiting for him for half an hour and he has to train.
“The fact that the boys left for training a little later because they wanted to congratulate me and applaud was something completely unreal and beautiful for me,” he told reporters after arriving in Prague. His wife Tereza was waiting for him at the airport and his son Marek was in the pram, according to the kayaker, the elder Jiří was already sleeping at home.
“The medal was not expected from me, the interest was not entirely great, and when I came to the village, I went to my room and no one was there,” Rohan said, adding that he was a little sorry, but enjoyed the celebrations of other athletes. “It was great that, despite all the complications and innovations of today, we functioned as one team,” he said.
Both slalom skiers have been friends since childhood. Sparkler remembered how they went to the swimming pool in Strahov together with their fathers, and even then they played to see that they were at the Olympics. “We all ride alone, but I think that the way we grew up around the water and played together from an early age helped us in some way to make it so high,” said Prskavec, who was two years older. Rohan added with a smile that he didn’t remember.
According to Rohan, Sparkler had no doubt from an early age that he would get to the Olympics one day. “I didn’t aim for it from the very beginning and I didn’t even want it. I’m even more surprised that we succeeded at one point in one place,” he said.
According to Prskavec, there will be no shortage of motivation for other races. “I think the priority is that we really enjoy the sport,” he said.
They are both looking forward to sleeping after difficult games. Sparkler did it on a plane from Tokyo to Paris. “For me, those days in Tokyo were a little different. I raced on Monday and then stayed as Jirka’s training partner, I was there to support him in his performance, and at the same time I could enjoy it a little differently than before the race,” Rohan remarked.
olympics canoeing slalom arrival Prskavec Rohan
.
