At the Olympic Games in Paris, kayaker Josef Dostál already secured a place in the semi-finals on the 1000-meter track without any problems, and saved his strength in the final. The third Uzbek Shakhrijor Muchkamov was significantly losing to him, and with the leading Australian Tom Green, the Czech representative did not engage in a fight for victory. Dostal said that the second position should be more advantageous for him.
“I studied it for quite a long time. There are two promotion keys, and if there is a second one, it is bad. But so far, the promotion key type one has been used. I calculated from the names that are strong on paper that the second place will be more advantageous for me in the semi-finals ,” said Dostál.
That’s why he watched the ride tactically. “I suspect that the Uzbek was also a moment ahead of me. He drove quite close to me. I said, what a fool. If he likes me, if I have such an attraction. I perceived him a lot. But then again, I thought to myself that he is not a boy who would he rode in the front for a long time, so it would be strange if he threatened me. So I was hoping that I would overtake Tom, which didn’t happen, but maybe it will be different in the semi-final and possibly the final,” said Dostál.
He also managed to feel the atmosphere in the stands at the Vaires-sur-Marne site. “I really enjoyed it. I entered the finish line with the end dropped. I was looking at the stands, I know the camera was taking me, so I was smiling at it. It may seem a bit unsportsmanlike, on the other hand, I am the first three quarters of the race he drove really sharp and I finished it the way I needed to,” Dostál pointed out.
On Saturday morning, the semi-finals await him, and two hours later a possible fight for a medal. “I don’t mind that the program is extended, but that the semi-final is two hours before the final,” said the participant of the fourth Olympiad, who will attack for the fifth precious metal.
He hopes there will be less wind on Saturday than today. “I’ve been watching the weather and the wind for a week now and it looks like it’s going to drop. Maybe it’s going to blow more from the side, which would suit me better than this,” he said. He also chooses a ship accordingly. “I have four, two and two here. Normal and special. From every two in case something happens during transport. There are not many such ships in the world anymore,” he pointed out.
He lives outside the Olympic village near the site with his fiancee, kayaker Anežka Paloudová. “It’s great. We have peace, family well-being. My sisters also live with us – my physiotherapist Anička Dostálová and my cook Kája Paloudová. Then there’s also the coach. We’re not far from the racetrack, it’s about fifteen minutes away,” he said.
“We can also walk here. Which is better. I talked with Germans, for example, who have to drive here for an hour. But if you have to commute an hour and go two to four times a day, it’s not quite the same. In addition, they have to go to the common dining room, queue, the food is probably not ideal. I get up in the morning, go downstairs in my pajamas and eat the breakfast I have prepared. I like it so much,” Dostál described.
Karolína Paloudová with her father Tomáš and brother Mikoláš came to Paris along the Seine and covered 360 kilometers in kayaks. “A huge performance. I smile in front of them. I couldn’t do this,” praised Dostál, praising Karolína’s cooking skills. “Kája cooks healthily above all. She travels with us regularly this season. She is a trained nutritional physiotherapist. The food is what an athlete should eat. Thanks to that, I probably lost a lot of weight and it shows on the water as well,” stated Dostál.
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