After two successful Olympics, the biathletes came out in a medal empty at the Games under five rings. The head of the Czech association, Jiří Hamza, did not hide that more was expected of his charges and that the situation needed to be resolved. Especially because he would like the Czechs to succeed in the World Championships in Nové Město na Moravě in two years.
In the alpine and freezing area of Changjia, Marketa David David twice attacked the podium. She lost her gold in the endurance race after the last shot and in the final race with a mass start she finally had a “potato” medal. The men were far from the front ranks and far the worst in the relay, in which they were reached and withdrawn by the judges.
“Markéta got amazing results, but otherwise we have something to think about, we have something to analyze. I don’t think it would be a complete mess, but it was no glory either,” Hamza told reporters.
“The last two Olympics have worked out for us, now it simply didn’t work out for us. We got used to something else. The potential was definitely greater. There is no point in hiding from it,” he said.
At the 2014 Sochi Games, biathletes won five medals and a six-time women’s relay. Four years ago in Pyongyang, they won two precious metals in sprints.
Ten minutes after the last race at the Beijing Olympics, Hamza did not want to draw conclusions. “It’s early, but it would be a mistake to lie in our own pockets that everything is fine. But we’re not hockey or football to throw coaches, masseurs, executive teams in quotes, that’s not the case. But I feel co-responsibility. We probably don’t do everything well, “said Hamza.
The head of the union also said that he did not want to recall anyone. “Throw it out, but we just have to think about it.”
By the end of the season, the biathletes have three more parts of the World Cup ahead of them. And by the end of April, it must be clear about the coaches and implementation teams. For women, Hamza would like to see Nora Egil Gjeland. “I’ll talk to Egil about staying. I’m saying this openly,” Hamza said. The man is led and at the same time the head coach is Ondřej Rybář. “There’s a slightly different story with Ondra. There aren’t that many experts. It’s logical that we didn’t succeed and we have to deal with Ondra,” Hamza said.
The change will come in the service team. Biathletes have repeatedly had problems with skiing. “It’s obvious that it wasn’t good. But it’s not the fault of the servants, we’re all on the same ship. I don’t want to crash anyone. From me to the end, I have to say we expected more, we didn’t make it. to play for success, so we must be able to admit failure, “said Hamza.
Michael Málek, who stands for promising juniors, can expand the men’s team. “Michal is one of the people who can help, as are other Czech coaches. Definitely in the service and we will be looking abroad in this,” Hamza thought.
He believes that a strong generation of juniors can help. “They are rafani, it’s a different generation, but the potential is huge there. We have to be able to process the transition between seniors, which is not quite easy in endurance sports,” he said.
Another goal of biathletes will be the world championship in the Vysočina region. “We have to find humility and push the cart and the makat, because there will be even greater expectations and we don’t have much time. Biathlon is endurance and nothing will be done here in a week or a year,” Hamza said. According to him, Davidová should continue to pull the Czech team. “Markéta has everything in front of her,” he believes.
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