Water slalom skier Vavřinec Hradilek is taking part in the Olympic Games for the fourth time in Tokyo and for the second time in a row in a non-racing role. The silver Olympic medalist from London 2012 works in Japan in the role of coach of the Brazilian team.
Hradilek raced under five laps in Beijing in 2008 and four years later in London. He did not get to other games in the category of kayakers through Jiří Prskavec and five years ago he worked as a television expert in Rio de Janeiro. Now, thanks to his friendship with Brazilian kayaker Pep Goncalves, he will try another role.
“When I entered the Olympic Village, the feeling is still the same, it is an Olympics that brings together all the world’s athletes,” Hradilek, who is also the leader of the Brazilian team, told Czech Television. “In order for the competitors and the representatives of the Brazilian Olympic Committee to understand everything, it’s a job. I don’t mean that I won’t stop, but it’s quite enough,” added the 2013 world champion from Prague.
Despite working for the Brazilian team, 34-year-old Hradilek admitted that he would keep his fingers crossed for his compatriots as well. “I am Czech, I am proud of it and I will be very happy if ours is at their best,” he said.
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