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Marie, welcome and congratulations on your fantastic performance at the Olympic Games! I’ll dive right in with the first question.

You finished in 17th place, which is a huge achievement. How did you feel, and how do you assess your performance?

Overall, I evaluate my participation in the Olympics positively. This season has been very demanding, especially in terms of living up to last year's success. I think the predictions and expectations from others were quite high, and maybe that didn't help me much during the season. However, I take it as a great experience. Being at my second Olympics and having a close contest with a Korean athlete is a good score. Plus, it has motivated me for the next four years.

The preparation for the Olympics must have been challenging. What did it actually look like, and how did you manage to balance it with your academic responsibilities?

This year, I prioritized preparing for the Olympics over my studies. That means I spread the final year of my master's studies over two years. The preparation was intense, both in a domestic environment and with the need to travel to warmer climates in February and March. Then, the World Cups and the European Championships followed, with a packed schedule of races. The hardest part was balancing that with the deadlines for submitting seminar papers, completing subjects, and preparing for exams, since, due to time constraints, I usually only have one attempt. From that perspective, I’m very grateful to my professors for being accommodating and sometimes allowing individual deadlines.

You also had the honor of being the flag bearer for the Czech delegation. What was it like for you to carry the Czech flag at the opening ceremony?

Being a flag bearer is a tremendous honor. Especially when you’re chosen by other athletes – that’s one of the highest forms of recognition. It was beautiful; I was proud of myself, my family, Czech athletes, and the Czech Republic.

How did you perceive the atmosphere of the Games and the organization?

The atmosphere at the Olympics is unique. You meet the masters of their sports there. Every athlete has a story, which is usually inspiring. I must also commend the volunteers for organizing the Olympics; they were smiling and helpful. Transportation was a bit of a challenge sometimes, but only at the beginning, before everything settled into place.

What are your plans now after the Olympics? What are your future goals, both in sports and in your studies?

After the Olympics, I’m taking some time to rest. I’m catching up on the everyday joys and challenges of life that I couldn’t focus on during the season. For example, right now, I’m spending time with friends and allowing myself a whole week of rest. I also need to finish renovating my apartment and complete some exams. The Olympics gave me a lot of motivation for the coming years, so I want to prepare for the next Olympics in 2028. Next year, I’ll compete at the World Championships, where I’ll defend my title. In addition to that, I want to finish my studies in May/June.

You’re currently in your final year of the master’s program in Physical Education and Health Education. Where would you like your future steps to lead?

The first step is to successfully complete this degree. I don’t intend to pursue further studies at the moment. On the other hand, it’s beneficial to have something outside of top-level sports that occupies your mind, with the added benefit that after my sports career, I’ll have something to fall back on. I don’t plan to become a teacher right away; I’d like to stay more involved in the sports world, where pedagogy can be quite useful, for example, in coaching children. I’d also like to continue inspiring others to pursue physical activity, sports, and the courage to follow their dreams.

How has studying at the Faculty of Education influenced your sports career?

During my bachelor’s studies in Physical Education and Sports, it was very challenging to balance the broad sports education with my sport and major competitions. On the other hand, it opened doors for me to improve myself and build a certain mental resilience. I’m grateful for my classmates – we had a great group. During that time, I was also intensively involved in coaching children, and the knowledge from my studies was helpful for that.

At the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia, we have many promising students who are also athletes. How would you evaluate the support for athletes at the faculty and the university as a whole? What do you think could further help young athletes?

The most important thing is to recognize that if you want to pursue both high-level sports and study, you have "two jobs," and it requires extra effort. Athletes need flexibility in scheduling exam dates and relief from mandatory class attendance, if required. I think this could be better addressed in the guidelines for alternative ways to fulfill academic requirements. It’s possible to negotiate official exceptions related to sports preparation for events like the European Championships, World Championships, or the Olympics.

A great help is the UNIS VSC Victoria project, which the University of West Bohemia is part of. It’s a scholarship program for university athletes. The University of West Bohemia generally supports sports, including participation in academic games and organizing sports events at the university. Every student can choose a sport for the semester, and I highly recommend it – it clears your mind, and you even earn credits for it.

What advice would you give young athletes at our faculty who want to successfully combine elite sports with studying?

I planned my studies around my schedule as much as possible so that I could attend school as much as possible. It’s also important to discuss academic responsibilities with your coach and maintain a balance during certain periods when you need to prioritize school or, conversely, the sport. With today’s study options, it’s possible to plan the necessary dates for school completion around training and competition schedules. But it’s wise to be well-prepared for exams on the first try. I didn’t plan to extend my studies, but knowing I’d be participating in the Olympics, I prioritized sports that year and extended my studies. Next year, I know I’ll have to adapt my spring training more around my studies.

Thank you very much for the interview, and we wish you continued success in sports and in life.