Decathlon athlete Tomáš Dvořák lives with his wife Gabriela in Hostivice near Prague. Today he makes a living as a gardener and spends most of his time outdoors. Working with his hands, a calmer pace and closeness to nature are a natural part of his life today.
The world record holder in the decathlon, Tomáš Dvořák, lives a peaceful life today in Hostivice near Prague. He traded the stadiums for work in the garden, which brings him satisfaction. The former top athlete has become a professional gardener who participates in the implementation of gardens and parks throughout the country. And the house in Hostivice and the garden that he gradually established there played a crucial role in this life change.
From athlete to gardener
After ending his active career, Tomáš Dvořák worked briefly as a coach and official. Gradually, however, he began to realize that this way of life no longer fulfilled him in the same way as before. The high pace, responsibility for the results of others and long-term stress led him to think about a fundamental change.
Sport was a natural part of Dvořák’s identity for decades. Nevertheless, he came to the conclusion that he wanted to direct his professional life elsewhere, closer to what he had enjoyed since childhood. He perceived the relationship to the soil, the garden and working outside as a fresh counterbalance to the world of top performances and tables.
The turning point was the building of one’s own house and garden in Hostivice near Prague. There he began to spend more and more time doing manual work and watching the changes in the space around him. He knew well that the result was growing slowly but steadily. A personal transformation gradually led to the complete abandonment of the athletic world and opened the way to a new profession.
Hostivice as an ideal home
Tomáš considers Hostivice an ideal place to live. He remains in touch with the capital, but at the same time can enjoy the calmer pace of a smaller settlement. The city has a long history dating back to the thirteenth century and to this day has preserved the character of a place that is not just a satellite of the metropolis.
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Hostivice is a smaller town near Prague that offers quiet living with good access to Prague and at the same time is close to nature.
The surrounding nature is also important to Tomáš. The cascade of Hostivické ponds is a natural monument and creates a unique landscape. The area is known for the presence of many species of birds and serves as an important breeding ground.
The surroundings of Hostivice also offer plenty of opportunities for active relaxation. Cycle paths lead to the wider region of Prague West and connect the city with forests, fields and interesting historical places. By bike, you can comfortably go, for example, towards Červený Újezd or further to the areas that connect to Křivoklátsko. Hostivice is therefore a balanced mix of civilization and nature. They provide Tomáš with an ideal background for family life, work and rest.
Tomáš Dvořák as a gardener
The work of a gardener is a natural outcome of Tomáš’ lifelong relationship with nature. His grandparents already cultivated an interest in plants and soil, and working in his own garden in Hostivice deepened this relationship. The original hobby gradually became a profession.
Dvořák joined forces with a long-time acquaintance who had helped him in the past with the establishment of a garden near the house. Together, they built a horticultural company focused on comprehensive landscaping of gardens and public spaces. Their work includes land reclamation, planting greenery, planting lawns and creating park improvements.
Among the more significant projects is the restoration of the park garden in the vicinity of the Hotel Zámeček in Poděbrady. The originally neglected space underwent an extensive transformation. Gardening brings him a completely different type of satisfaction than top sport, as he says. “What I enjoy most about it is that you can see the result of your work. And it’s still growing,” he revealed to Czech Radio. Hostivice thus became the basis of his second life chapter.
Resources:strednicechy.rozhlas.cz, denik.cz, wikipedia.org
