Three-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecká still does not have a signed representation contract. However, the skiers union has assured that she will leave her biggest star competing without her. “In no case will we prevent you from registering for the competitions”, assured Ladislav Forejtek, head of the alpine disciplines section.
Forejtek thinks he will agree an agency agreement with the people around Ledecka. “I think it’s worth finding mutual respect between the union and its team. The offer is on the table,” a union official said.
According to him, the union wants to follow certain rules from which it cannot escape. “We offer something in return, and now he’s considering whether it’s motivating enough and suitable for them, or if they want to change something,” Forejtek added.
Ledecká broke up with the Sport Invest agency after last season and has not yet announced the new management.
However, Forejtek confirmed behind-the-scenes information that he is partnering with coach Jan Koukal’s Sportegy agency. His team also includes Olympic medalists Josef Dostál, Radek Šlouf, Lukáš Rohan and Alexander Choupenitch or the best Czech swimmer Barbora Seemanová. “Yes, I talked to them, they are in talks,” Forejtek said.
The negotiation for the representation contract also became complicated four years ago, when the current head of the union, David Trávníček, negotiated it with the Ledecka team as head of the Sport Invest agency, which was then the number one in sports. Czech winters.
At one point, the leaders of the trade union sections even talked about the fact that the negotiations had failed. Eventually, both sides signed an agreement for the entire Olympic cycle.
The question, however, is when Ledecká will jump into the World Cup joust after breaking her collarbone in August. The first speed race is already scheduled for early November, when a new downhill race will take place in Zermatt and Cervinia on the border between Switzerland and Italy, but the Czech star will start training on skis only next month.
“It depends on her team, how they feel if she is ready or not. Whether they want to compete or not,” Forejtek shrugged.
He has no more detailed information on how Ledecká is currently doing. “I have discussed with Tomas (Bank) that it will finally be possible to start training after conditioning, but I don’t know more,” she remarked.
Ledecká should train in Europe. National team coach Jan Fiedler is convinced he can make up the training gap.
“It’s not ideal, but Ester is a pro, she’s able to train 130 percent. I think she’ll recover.