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From the ArchivesEmil Zátopek: a Czech sporting hero
The early 1950s in Czechoslovakia was a bleak period in the country’s
history, but there was also some escape from politics. In 1952 the Summer
Olympics were held in the Finnish capital Helsinki and the undisputed hero
of the games was the greatest Czech runner of all time, Emil Zátopek.
Despite his extraordinary style, with his face contorted, his head and
torso swinging, and emitting sounds that earned him the nickname of “the
Czech locomotive”, he went to Helsinki having already twice broken the
world record over 20 kilometres. His dream at the Olympics was to win two
gold medals: in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Czechoslovak Radio’s Bohuš
Ujček and Vítězslav Mokroš were there to report on the event. More
Current AffairsŠpotáková looking forward to working more closely with javelin legend Železný after injury-blighted season
The reigning Olympic javelin champion Barbora Špotáková came first in
the international Diamond League this year, but could only manage bronze at
the European Championships in Barcelona. Following a season blighted by
injuries, the 29-year-old announced last month she was parting
company with her trainer – and planning to work with javelin legend Jan
Železný. When I spoke to Špotáková this week, I asked the athletics
star if it was true there had been a link between her training schedule and
her injury problems.
More
Sports NewsSports News
In Sports News this Monday: the Czech Republic’s soccer team lose to
Turkey in New York, making it four friendlies, no wins for coach Michal
Bílek; Petr Frydrych comes second in the javelin at a Diamond League
meeting in Shanghai; and Usain Bolt will again be the biggest star at
Ostrava’s Golden Spike on Thursday.
More
From the ArchivesEmil Zátopek: a Czech sporting hero
The early 1950s in Czechoslovakia was a bleak period in the country’s
history, but there was also some escape from politics. In 1952 the Summer
Olympics were held in the Finnish capital Helsinki and the undisputed hero
of the games was the greatest Czech runner of all time, Emil Zátopek.
Despite his extraordinary style, with his face contorted, his head and
torso swinging, and emitting sounds that earned him the nickname of “the
Czech locomotive”, he went to Helsinki having already twice broken the
world record over 20 kilometres. His dream at the Olympics was to win two
gold medals: in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Czechoslovak Radio’s Bohuš
Ujček and Vítězslav Mokroš were there to report on the event.
More
Sports NewsSports News
In Sports News this Monday: Olympic champion Barbora Špotáková sets a
new world record, meaning the Czech Republic now has world records in both
men’s and women’s javelin; among the first to congratulate
Špotáková is Dana Zátopková, who herself set a world record 50 years
ago; the Czech Republic has so far won six golds at the Paralympics and an
overall tally of 22 medals; and Tomáš Řepka behaves himself as Sparta
Prague beat Brno to stay top of the Czech football league. More
MailboxMailbox
Today in Mailbox: sausage stands on Wenceslas Square in Prague, the number
of letters and e-mails Radio Prague receives annually, the highest mountain
in the Czech Republic, the 17th-century Prague opera diva Josephina Dušek.
Listeners quoted: Mark Guy, Mostafa Kamal, Sanusi Isah Dankaba, Ashraful
Islam, Vinc Wesley Dusek, Greg MacDonald.
More
MailboxMailbox
Today in Mailbox we disclose the identity of June’s mystery Czech and
announce the names of the four winners who will receive prizes from Radio
Prague. Listeners quoted: Prasanta Kumar Padmapati, Panha Pen, Stephen
Wara, Robin Wisdom, Elder S J Agboola, Deepa Chakraborty, Jerry Fridrich,
Aloisie Krasny, Bob Boundy, Colin Law, and David Eldridge.
More
MailboxMailbox
This week we announce the winner of Radio Prague's annual contest who wins
a trip to the Czech Republic. We also read an extract from the winning
entry.
More
SpecialOlga Fikotová-Connolly: 1956 Olympic champion dubbed “traitor” in communist Czechoslovakia over romance with US athlete
Olga Fikotová won gold in the discus at the Olympic Games in 1956, less
than two years after taking up the discipline. At the Olympics she met and
fell in love with an American athlete, Harold Connolly. Back home in
Czechoslovakia, their romance overshadowed her stunning success, with Olga
accused of being a traitor by the communist authorities. Marriage to Harold
spelled the end of her career as a Czechoslovak athlete, though she went on
to represent the US at four Olympic Games. Olga Fikotová-Connolly is our
guest in this special programme.
More
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