From Diligent Effort to Global Success
STYL ROZHOVOR
62 POSITIV 2/2024
How would you evaluate the current state
of athletics in the Moravian-Silesian Region and
which achievements in recent years do you consider
the greatest?
Jan Železný: From my point of view, athletics in
MSK is being implemented at a high level. The care
for athletes is well structured and interconnected
from the preparatory schools to the Regional Athletic
Academy Ostrava, the Centre of Individual Sports
Ostrava, and Olymp Ostrava. It creates an environment
of cooperation and support for mutual growth.
There is a network of comprehensive services. From
nutrition, psychology, medical and physiotherapy
support at the level of the national team, and all this
in an infrastructured environment that is unparalleled
in the country. There is the only full-fledged athletics
stadium for major competitions, relatively high-quality
accommodation in its vicinity, the only athletics hall
used by foreign athletes, including stars such as Ewa
Swoboda, a tunnel and gyms. Even if some elements
are outdated, they can be worked with very well,
and everything can always be improved. At the same
time, there are several decades of organisational
successes from the U17 World Championships,
U23 European Championships, Continental Cup,
all those 63 years of Golden Spike, and at least one
national championship every year. It all adds up to one
package. The conditions here are great. What I see
as crucial is to find a good way to hand over from youth
coach to senior coach, to maintain continuity and, most
importantly, to have enough capable, enthusiastic,
educated and experienced coaches.
What do you think should be the priority in
supporting young athletes in the Czech Republic so
that they can achieve international success?
Jan Železný: The priority should be to have coaches
who are so top-notch that they can inspire the youth,
lead them to a quality relationship with athletics, and
make their love of athletics last as long as possible.
Ideally for their whole life, so that once they are
done with their active career, the environment is
attractive enough for them to want to stay in it, to
pass on their experience and give back to the system
as coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists or
doctors. The sensitive period is around 17 years old,
when many students leave athletics. Coaches need
to know the trends, be able and willing to grow and
educate themselves, be partly psychologists, and have
clarity within themselves.And most importantly, young
athletes should know why they're doing something and
what it is that they want to achieve, and to have their
feet on the ground and not their head in the online
world. They must be able to awaken the drive in young
people to go for the goal and work on themselves.
These are high demands on the whole system, but they
seem to be well on their way in the Moravian-Silesian
region.
How can schools and local sports clubs work better
together to support young athletic talents?
Jan Železný: The sports schools in the region have
historically been of high quality. Helceletová, Bába,
Ogrodníková, these are just a few names that have come
Co obnáší přivést světové atletické hvězdy, jako
je například Armand Duplantis, na Zlatou tretru
v Ostravě?
Alfonz Juck: Je to dlouholetá mravenčí práce, kontakty
s předními světovými manažery i přímo atlety. Neustá-
le musíte držet prst na pulsu dění, komunikovat celý
rok a udržovat „horké linky“. Vždy je to o plánu, koho
bychom na daný rok chtěli do Ostravy přivést. Také
o termínu, programu disciplín, který se tvoří prakticky
hned po skončení aktuálního ročníku. Pak už, když
jsme ve fázi potvrzování startu, musí být vyřešeny eko-
nomické otázky a další detaily. V případě Duplantise
například to, jak se dají dopravit tyče. Množství dalších
detailů, které je třeba řešit. Od oznámení účasti atleta
až po jeho opuštění Ostravy může uběhnout i několik
měsíců. Tak dlouhodobá práce s mnoha proměnnými
to je.
Pánové, děkujeme Vám za rozhovor.