MARTINA SÁBLÍKOVÁ

Martina Sáblíková was born on the 27th May 1987 in New Town on Moravia. She is Czech speed skater, which specializes in long distances, 3000 and 5000 meters. She is three-time Olympic winner, multiple world and European champion, holder of several world records. She also won the Czech Republic speed skating championship several times. She was brought to speed skating at the age of 11 by coach Petr Novák, who is still her coach. Has been active at international games since spring 2002. It was the first time she attended the Junior World Championships. In the autumn of 2002 she took part in the first World Cup races. The turning point in her career was the 2005/2006 season. This season she took part in the Winter Olympic in Turin, where she finished fourth on the 5000 meters. And she won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships. Martina Sáblíková has significantly expanded her collection of medals since 2007. She gradually won five gold, three silver and three bronze medals from the European Championships. She won sixteen gold and five silver medals at the World Championships on each track. In all-around at the World Championships, she won five gold, two silver and one bronze medal. She won at the Olympic Games in Vancouver on the 3000 and 5000 meters tracks, and was third in the 1500 meters race. Another silver medal, she won at the distance of 3000 meters at the Olympic Games in Sochi. A few days later, she won an Olympic gold medal in the 5000 meters race. She won another silver medal at the Olympic Games 2018 in Pyongyang on the 5000 meters track. In the season 2006/2007 – 2016/2017, she ruled in the World Cup. She won the 3000 and 5000 meters races eleven times in a row. She won two more gold medals, after a one – year break, in the years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020.She is one of our most successful athletes and is role model for many young speed skater.

by Barbora Oktábcová