Ledecká stood up for the legends, she will support Sparta. Kratochvílová advised
She was the queen of the evening, but Ester Ledecká twice provoked a standing ovation for other sports legends when announcing the Sportswoman of the Year. The hall in the Hilton Prague hotel applauded the athletics world record holder Jarmila Kratochvílova and the farewell javelin thrower Barbora Špotáková.
“I stood up because it seems to me that who else would deserve a standing ovation. These legends deserve much more. They deserve to never be forgotten. I’m glad that the Athlete of the Year remembers them,” Ledecká explained.
Špotáková was announced in her farewell thanks to her bronze medals at the European Championships in Munich. In 2013, Kratochvílová already received the Emil Zátopek award for sports legend. This time she received the National Sports Agency Award for dedication to sports. She then met at the press conference with 19-year-old swimmer Daniel Gracík, who this year won two silver medals at the Junior World Championships and was named Junior of the Year.
“Everything awaits him. I just want to tell him that sometimes things don’t go as everyone imagines. Now is such a time that young people want everything right away, and not everything is possible. I’m looking forward to the fact that in a few years you’ll be swimming very well somewhere and maybe you’ll remember my words that it’s not easy,” Kratochvílová advised the young swimmer.
Hockey representative Michal Kempný, who returned to the extra league this year after seven years abroad, is preparing for a traditional Czech Christmas. The day after Christmas Day, however, with Sparta to the Spengler Cup in Davos.
“I’ll be watching Sparta and cheering,” Ledecká smiled as she imagined her Christmas. “For the first time in my life, I have all the presents already. She had time to collect it, I don’t have it packed, I think it will turn out well.’