Jaroslav Sakala
Encyclopedia
Jaroslav Sakala (ˈjaroslaf ˈsakala) (born July 14, 1969 in Krnov
, Czech Republic
) is a Czechoslovak
-Czech
ski jumper who competed from 1989 to 2002. He entered his first Ski jumping World Cup
competition on January 15, 1989 in Harrachov
. His first big success was at the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville
with a bronze medal in the team large hill. Sakala finished second in the 1992-3 Overall World Cup ski jumping and fourth the following season.
He won three medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1993 with a silver in the individual normal hill and bronzes in the individual and team large hills. Sakala achieved his first World Cup victory on January 30, 1994 at Planica
. His only victory on a regular ski jump was in Liberec
on January 16, 1994. Sakala's fourth and final World Cup victory on March 20, 1994 at Planica when he won the Ski flying World Championships
. He was the first Czech to break the 200 meters mark. He could not follow up on these successes in the years afterword and he didn't medal in ski jumping after 1996, partly because of his conflicts with Czech skiing federation and because of his short period of excessive drinking. Sakala made more frequent ski flying appearances from 1996 until his 2002 retirement.
Krnov
Krnov is an Upper Silesian city in the northeastern Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the District of Bruntál, on the Opava River, near the Polish border....
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
) is a Czechoslovak
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
-Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
ski jumper who competed from 1989 to 2002. He entered his first Ski jumping World Cup
Ski jumping World Cup
The FIS Ski Jumping World Cup is a ski jumping tournament held yearly by the International Ski Federation since 1979–80 season.- World Cup points :...
competition on January 15, 1989 in Harrachov
Harrachov
Harrachov is a town on the Mumlava river in the northern Czech Republic, 300 m from the border with Poland. It is within the Krkonoše mountain range, about above sea level.-History:...
. His first big success was at the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
with a bronze medal in the team large hill. Sakala finished second in the 1992-3 Overall World Cup ski jumping and fourth the following season.
He won three medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1993 with a silver in the individual normal hill and bronzes in the individual and team large hills. Sakala achieved his first World Cup victory on January 30, 1994 at Planica
Planica
Planica is an alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another well-known ski resort, Kranjska Gora. Further south, the valley extends into the Tamar Valley, a popular hiking destination in Triglav National Park.Planica is famous for...
. His only victory on a regular ski jump was in Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
on January 16, 1994. Sakala's fourth and final World Cup victory on March 20, 1994 at Planica when he won the Ski flying World Championships
FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1994
The FIS Ski-Flying World Ski Championships 1994 took place on 20 March 1994 in Planica, Slovenia for the record fourth time. Planica hosted the championships previously when it was part of Yugoslavia in 1972, 1979, and 1985. This was the first sports event to take place in Slovenia after it...
. He was the first Czech to break the 200 meters mark. He could not follow up on these successes in the years afterword and he didn't medal in ski jumping after 1996, partly because of his conflicts with Czech skiing federation and because of his short period of excessive drinking. Sakala made more frequent ski flying appearances from 1996 until his 2002 retirement.