Jan Zelezny and Roman Sebrle show off the new named bibs (© Golden Spike)
Prague, Czech RepublicAt a ceremony in the Hotel Ambassador in Wentzel Square, Decathlon World Record holder Roman Sebrle was again voted the Czech athlete of the year. In second place was women’s Discus thrower Vera Pospisilová-Cechlova, with three-time Olympic Javelin champion Jan Zelezny, in third.
Sebrle was the only Czech athlete who was able to win medals at both World Championships in 2003 - bronze in Birmingham and silver in Paris.
"It is nice but I would preferred to have won on the track and that did not happen, so I am looking forward to 2004 with great expectations. I have already started my preparation. We will fly to Potchefstroom in South Africa next weekend and spend one month training there. My goals are clear - to win in Athens (Olympics) and in Budapest (World Indoor champs). It will not be easy but I could not have other goals," explained Sebrle who attended the ceremony in green army outfit as member of the army sports club Dukla Praha.
Second place went to discus thrower Vera Pospisilova-Cechlova who recently married a wrestler, and is currently World ranked number one by IAAF and was the victor at IAAF World Athletics Final in her event.
"Despite my only fifth position in Paris I can say, that this was my best season ever," said Pospisilova.
Javelin legend Jan Zelezny finished third after scoring some important Golden League wins in Paris and Zurich and second place in Monaco at the World Athletics Final but was only fourth in Paris.
"It was not bad, of course I wanted more. At least I was better in the voting as last year I was only ninth" said Zelezny, who is looking forward to the preparation for the Olympic Games in Athens. He will start as usual in early January in South Africa.
The award ceremony was again very special, with the main guest being Czech President Mr. Vaclav Klaus, and it was televised by the main public TV channel in a prime time slot.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
Results of the vote (89 coaches, journalists, officials)
Overall
1. Roman Sebrle (decathlon) 885, 2. Vera Pospisilová-Cechlova (discus) 733, 3. Jan Zelezny (javelin) 719, 4. Tomas Dvorak (decathlon) 641, 5. Jaroslav Baba (high jump) 474, 6. Miroslav Guzdek (javelin) 359, 7. Jiri Muzik (400mHurdles) 308, 8. Jarmila Klimesová (javelin) 171, 9. Tomas Janku (high jump) 136, 10. Pavla Hamackova (pole vault) 126
Junior: 1. Jaroslav Baba (high jump) 75, 2. Zuzana Hejnova (400m H) 13, 3. Remigius Machura jr. (shot put) 1
Coach: 1. Dalibor Kupka (Sebrle, Muzik, Tesarik) 75, 2. Ales Duda (Baba) 24, 3. Josef Silhavy (Pospisilova) 20
Newcomer of the year: 1. Zuzana Hejnova (400mH, U17 World Champion) 32, 2. Jaroslav Baba (high jump) 20, 3. Miroslav Guzdek and Jarmila Klimesova (both javelin) both 5
