Torun, Poland – The final day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships saw both the Czech Republic’s men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams fall short of medal contention. The women’s team, comprised of Kateřina Emily Šmilauerová, Lurdes Gloria Manuel, Nikola Bisová, and Lada Vondrová, were disqualified from their heat, whereas the men’s quartet of Martin Koreček, Milan Ščibráni, David Bix, and Šimon Ceplý finished ninth, missing the final by nearly two seconds.
The Czech women’s team faced a challenging situation heading into the relays, with Johanka Šafářová and Terezie Táborská sidelined due to health issues. This left only four available athletes, meaning newly crowned champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel had to quickly return to the track after a demanding individual program. Manuel ran the second leg, receiving the baton from Šmilauerová in fourth place. She completed her two laps in 51.10 seconds, moving the Czech team up to third, within striking distance of Poland.
“My body feels the effects of running several 400m races in quick succession,” Manuel told Czech Television. “Of course, I was tired, but I think relays have a special magic. Even when you’re feeling fatigued, it energizes you and you want to help the team.”
However, the Czech team’s hopes were dashed as they were relegated to last place in their heat after the legs run by Nikola Bisová and Lada Vondrová. While a time of 3:30.61 minutes might have been enough for a time-based qualification, the disqualification ended their chances. Even that time would not have been sufficient to secure a spot in the six-team final.
The men’s team opted not to include 18-year-old Tomáš Horák, who had already competed in the individual 400m final, in the relay lineup. The Czech quartet finished last in their heat with a time of 3:07.53, placing them ninth overall and well outside of qualifying contention.
In other events, New Zealand’s Tom Walsh secured his fourth World Indoor Championship title in the shot position, becoming the most decorated athlete in the event’s history. Walsh won with a throw of 21.82 meters, adding to his impressive collection of seven medals from the championships, having consistently medaled since Sopot in 2014. He initially took the lead in the fifth round with a throw of 21.66 meters, surpassing Jordan Geist of the USA by two centimeters, before extending his lead with his final effort. Geist took silver, and Roger Steen of the USA claimed bronze with a throw of 21.49 meters.
Agate de Sousa of Portugal won the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.92 meters, defeating Italy’s Larissa Iapichino by five centimeters to claim her first World Championship gold medal. De Sousa’s previous achievements include a European bronze medal in 2024 and a Universiade title last year. Natalia Linares of Colombia secured the bronze medal.
Kateřina Emilly Šmilauerová, a Czech athlete specializing in the 400m and 4x400m relay, currently holds a world ranking of #223 in the women’s 400m and #1185 in the women’s 200m, according to World Athletics. Her personal best in the 300m is 38.12 seconds (set January 21, 2025), and in the 400m short track, it’s 53.63 seconds (set February 22, 2025). She also contributed to a 4x400m relay time of 3:40.56 in August 2022.
The Czech team will now look ahead to the outdoor season, hoping to build on the experiences gained in Toruń. The challenges faced at the World Indoor Championships highlight the importance of depth and preparation as they aim for success on the international stage.
The next major event for many of these athletes will be the start of the outdoor season, with various meets scheduled throughout Europe in the coming weeks. Details regarding specific schedules and locations will be released by World Athletics and national federations.
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