Barbora Špotáková has stepped forward to defend Czech athletes struggling at the European Athletics Championships, arguing that the team deserves public backing rather than harsh backlash following a series of early exits and missed finals. According to reports from regional and national sports coverage, the two-time Olympic champion emphasized that competitors are sacrificing immensely while juggling work and studies.
Defending the Roster Amid Early Exits
The Czech contingent at the championships has largely failed to match seasonal best performances, with multiple athletes exiting during qualification rounds and preliminary heats. Notable struggles hit the women’s javelin squad and the 400-meter relay teams, while hammer thrower Volodymyr Myslyvčuk provided a rare bright spot by finishing fourth in his event. Despite the mounting pressure and public criticism, Špotáková made it clear that she stands firmly behind the roster.
“Everyone who made it to the European Championships is an exceptional and admirable person,” Špotáková told journalists, as detailed in coverage from outlets such as isport.blesk.cz. Pointing out the financial and personal sacrifices required, she noted that many athletes balance training with university studies or jobs. “They sacrifice a tremendous amount for very little. So they truly deserve admiration, not disgusting criticism. They absolutely do not deserve that. I stand behind every single one of them.”
Finding a Turning Point From the Bottom
Historical success at major championships often requires weathering difficult losses, a reality Špotáková knows intimately from her illustrious career as a world record holder. Aside from long jumper Petr Meindlschmid—who improved his seasonal best and finished eighth in a final cut short by injury—few Czech competitors have peaked at the right moment in the current competition cycle.
“I honestly do not know why it is simply not working out,” Špotáková admitted regarding the team’s overall form. “Right now we are way down at the bottom, but that makes it all the better because you can bounce back from the bottom.” Drawing from her own decades at the top level, she added that setbacks are an unavoidable part of elite sport. “No athlete who achieved great success did so without big losses. It simply cannot be done without that. Perhaps everyone here who failed is actually heading toward truly great performances soon, and they just needed a wake-up call.”
Transitioning to the Coaching Ranks
For Špotáková, who officially concluded her legendary professional career in 2022 with a bronze medal at the European Championships in Munich, the current meet brings a completely new perspective. She is attending the championships in the role of a coach, working closely with elite javelin thrower Nikol Tabačková.
Witnessing the event from the sidelines rather than the runway has proved surreal for the 45-year-old former champion. “I still feel like I should be stretching, like I should be doing strides. It is terrible,” she smiled. At the same time, she acknowledged that the demanding lifestyle of a modern coach caught her by surprise. Writing training plans late at night and mapping out winter training camps months in advance requires a meticulous approach that goes far beyond traditional working hours.
Next Steps for the Czech Team
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