Kateřina Smutná ends her career
eD system Bauer Team
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Overall, you finished fourth in the Ski Classics series. Why are you finishing?
I am 37 years old, so I am no longer the youngest. It’s probably my 26th season and I would also like to go on maternity leave, which I’m really looking forward to. I think it’s the right time.
Can I already congratulate you?
(smiles) I’ve already had a few congratulations, because a lot of people have understood as a clear thing that I’m already pregnant, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Otherwise, I would definitely not drive a hundred. But it is planned.
Kateřina Smutná during Vas’s run
Team Bauer system eD, ČTK
How long have you considered the end?
A little bit last year. But then we thought about it (with Radim Duda, coach and at the same time life partner, editor’s note) and decided to prepare for a few races this season due to the covid situation. And in the end, it was almost all of them … Three or four races were canceled due to the covid. Vasák was supposed to be the last, but as the situation was bad in the Czech Republic due to the covid, we said to ourselves that we would stay in Sweden and go around a few races. And I think it turned out well. (smiles)
Did you feel nostalgic?
Even before the start, as the girls were warming up, I just walked and made love. I was completely moved when I thought it was the last time. And most of all, I wanted to do it really well. If I started racing, it would be in the stars if I even reached the finish line. I had great respect because I had a cramp a week before and had to end (Välädalsrennet). I was therefore careful, and most importantly I wanted to reach the finish line with a smile.
Which you did.
Yes. I was surprised at how well I was doing. The conditions were terribly difficult. I drove full speed for the last five kilometers, when Britta and I fought for sixth place. It was a great race that I enjoyed a lot, which was my biggest wish when it was the last. If I had to pack it like a week before, I would be terribly disappointed.
Sad finished sixth in the new Swedish “lauf”
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And is the end final? For example, Marit Björgen returned at the age of 40.
I have a motherhood planned and if it happens soon, which I really wish, I would like to run two or three races a season. Jizerka, Vasák and Marcialonga, for example, not really anymore. This is my dream. I can’t live without skiing, I know that now.
Looking back on your career, what do you like to remember?
There were an awful lot of those seasons. I like to remember 11th place at the Olympics in Vancouver in the sprint classically and then at the World Championships in Oslo, where I was 15th in the top ten classically. It’s not exactly the top location, but there were a lot of people around the track, which I have beautiful memories of. And from the marathons clearly to the first place at Vasák in 2016 and then to Jizerská 50 a year later. This will not surpass anything.
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