“The last two days have been terribly emotional for me, I slept for about five hours from Saturday to Sunday, I can’t suppress those emotions. Ondra taught me everything I show now, even in training he moved me by shooting, because when you have someone better in the activity, you try to subdue him. I took something from him every day. The most beautiful moment together? It was great when we won a medal together in the mixed relay last year, but for me it was a beautiful experience of Sochi, where I was still in the role of such a custodian, who was supposed to cheer up the team. “
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Michal Krčmář (right) with Ondřej Moravec after a fighter jet in Nové Město na Moravě.
Czech biathlon / Petr Slavík
Jiří HAMZA, Chairman of the Czech Association, Vice President of IBU
“What comes to my mind when you say Ondra? Tongue sticking out and riding one ski to the finish line when he was successful. He did most of all, more than Gabča, even though he lived in her media shadow. At the same time, he had his first medal at the age of almost 29. Although he had junior successes, the transition took him a long time. Then it broke one day. Incredible personality, pro. I dare say we’re friends. As a union, we will stand up to it, give him travel bonuses, wait for him to rest, and maybe he will come to return to biathlon in some role. “
Johannes BOE, leader of the World Championships, Olympic winner of the endurance race
“He is a fantastic man, he always had a smile on his face. From the moment I jumped into the World Cup, he was one of the nicest guys here. At the same time he was a fantastic racer, it started with him in the Czech Republic, then Gabriela came. That’s why we always liked to come here, we felt like big stars here when the stadium was full. Ondra’s life has been just biathlon for the last twenty years. When you’re on the road 150 to 200 days a year, it won’t be easy to just be home now. ”
Markéta DAVIDOVÁ, world champion in the endurance race
“I was quite afraid of Ondra at first, he was quite respectful. What? He is so own and vigorous, I think he is not very afraid to express his views. As he feels, he behaves, so as a little girl I had that respect for him. But I think I finally found my way to Ondra and I’m glad I was able to spend some years with him. “
Ondřej RYBÁŘ, coach of the men’s national team
“Saying goodbye is hard, even if you prepare for it and count on it for a year. ‘I feel nostalgia, there are so many memories, good and emotionally worse, when the fourth places came here in Nové Město na Moravě. But then there was the Olympics in Sochi, where he showed his concert, the next year of the World Championships in Kontiolahti… Then he missed a bit in Hochfilzen to win the championship, but he has enough medals on his neck, he has something to be proud of. I would love to work with him in the future. “
Michal ŠLESINGR, former biathlete, world champion with mixed relay
“We were different, but we always respected each other. Ondra was very determined, he was able to systematically pursue his goals, he did not let himself be distracted by anything. This is a much valued feature in sports, when one is 100% set on it and the others step aside. Not everyone can do it. That I would advise him how to handle the transition to civilian life? Ondra wouldn’t even want to be distracted by this before hanging his fishermen by their leaky tips on a nail. “
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