Her autobiography was titled Circles of Fate. The Olympic rings really gave direction to her life path, about which she told an engaging story when she flew to the Czech Republic in 2006 after half a century. As a charming smiling lady full of vigor and optimism…
For a native of Czechoslovakia to carry the American flag during the Iron Curtain at the opening ceremony of the Olympics? It really happened in Munich 1972, the American athletes themselves chose the discus player, she enjoyed such popularity in her new homeland. Although she left home with a heavy heart, which was won by a year older Connolly in Melbourne in 1956…
It was a beautiful romantic story with dramatic elements. A native of Libiš and a student of medicine became an Olympic champion on the other side of the world when she inadvertently bumped into the American Connolly, the gold medalist among hammer throwers, at the training stadium.
An inconspicuous meeting turned into love, which was not desired by the time. More precisely, communist functionaries.
After arriving home, Fikotová received a watch for gold. “Comrade, we would have given you something bigger, but you only fulfilled the plan fifty percent. You won the Olympics for us, but then you embarrassed us with that American,” she heard. Many officials did not want to forgive her for her relationship with the “imperialist”.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
Olga Fikotová Conolly during her active career.
However, the wedding managed to take place thanks to the help of Dana and Emil Zátopka, who were their witnesses. And it was a great success, thirty thousand people wished for their marriage!
Connolly had to fly to Vienna and negotiate an invitation from Austria to a professional seminar in Poland. He then had to interrupt his journey at the Ruzyně airport for “serious health reasons”. At first he lived in the Paříž hotel, but when he found out that he was being eavesdropped by the StB, they both moved in with the Zátopkas. After the intercession of Emil and President Zápotocký, they received permission to marry.
“They told us at the ministry that we shouldn’t make a sensation out of it and don’t spread the word about it anywhere. So we set the wedding date for Wednesday at 10 o’clock. We thought everyone would be at work. But when I arrived at the square, there were a lot of people there. I thought there had been an accident, but my dad told me: “No, they’re all here because of you,” Fikotová recalled.
⚫️ RIP Olga Fikotova Connolly 🇨🇿🇺🇸
📀 🥇@Olympics 1956
🏀🥈 @FIBA Europe 1954Competed 5 AND
🇺🇸 flag carrier for the opening ceremony in Munich 1972
PB 57.61 1972
Married hammer throw Olympic champ Harold Connolly, their highly publicized romance started in 1956 Olympics pic.twitter.com/h3DReY0sp2
— PJ Vazel (@pjvazel) April 14, 2024
However, she was forbidden by Czechoslovak officials to travel to competitions abroad, which she found difficult to accept. She moved to Boston with her husband and managed four more Olympics in American colors. They had four children, she divorced Connolly, who died fourteen years ago, but always spoke of him with respect.
She herself was involved in the social field and ecology, and even at an advanced age she worked in Las Vegas as a personal trainer for people after injuries and seniors. “It’s nonsense for a person to lose interest in life after seventy and throw himself into the scrapyard,” she explained.
2024-04-14 21:35:42
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