Katerina Neumannová
Encyclopedia
Kateřina Neumannová (ˈkatɛr̝ɪna ˈnojmanovaː) (born 15 February 1973 in Písek
, Czechoslovakia
) is a retired Czech
cross country skier
. She was a flatwater canoeist
and downhill skier
before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen. She is one of five cross country skiers to ever compete at six Olympics.
On July 2, 2003, Neumannová became a mother, giving birth to a girl named Lucie.
On February 17, 2005, she won the 10 km free at the Nordic skiing World Championships
. Neumannová defended her 10 km free title at the following championships in Sapporo on February 27, 2007.
On February 24, 2006, in her final Olympic race, Neumannová won her first Winter Olympic
gold medal in the 30 km freestyle mass start and became the oldest winner in the event.
On 14 January 2007 Neumannová received the title Czech Sportsperson of the Year 2006, a trophy awarded by journalists in the Czech Republic.
She was also the first Czech woman to appear in both a Summer and Winter Olympics. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
, she participated in the mountain biking
event.
Neumannová retired after the 2006-07 World Cup season.
Her training during summer involved riding mountain bike and when the sport become popular she decided to race in it. Thanks to her strong muscles she quickly achieved successes. In 1995, she won a bronze medal at the European Championships, and she also qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta.
Although cross-country skiing remained her main sport and her summer training was usually lighter she took preparations for Atlanta seriously. "This time I left out the pleasant period and started abruptly. Thanks to it I achieved results in athletic tests that I last run in junior categories" she said before Olympics. But her preparations were not in the best conditions. She practised in a cold weather in Šumava while great heat was expected for Atlanta race
On July 31, 1996 she became the first Czech female athlete to compete on both Winter and Summer Olympics when starting in the mountain bike race at the Georgia International Horse Park
in Conyers, USA
. But the race itself was a horror for her. She fell of the bike early in the race. "I overrun about 15 racers but then a terrible crisis came upon me. I did not race anymore, I just wanted to finish," she described the race. She mainly complained about the terrible heat and said it was one of her worst experiences.
Only two weeks later, on January 11 and 12, she achieved two second places in the World Cup. It was again on the 5 km and 10 km distances, but this time it was 5 km classic and 10 km free. The race was run in Hakuba, Japan on the tracks ready for 1998 Winter Olympics
, Czech Republic. On July 25, 2007, she succeeded Roman Kumpost as chair of the organizing committee for the 2009 championships.
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
, Czechoslovakia
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...
) is a retired 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....
cross country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. She was a flatwater canoeist
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and downhill skier
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen. She is one of five cross country skiers to ever compete at six Olympics.
On July 2, 2003, Neumannová became a mother, giving birth to a girl named Lucie.
On February 17, 2005, she won the 10 km free at the Nordic skiing World Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
. Neumannová defended her 10 km free title at the following championships in Sapporo on February 27, 2007.
On February 24, 2006, in her final Olympic race, Neumannová won her first Winter Olympic
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
gold medal in the 30 km freestyle mass start and became the oldest winner in the event.
On 14 January 2007 Neumannová received the title Czech Sportsperson of the Year 2006, a trophy awarded by journalists in the Czech Republic.
She was also the first Czech woman to appear in both a Summer and Winter Olympics. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, she participated in the mountain biking
Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Cycling competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics. There were three categories of events – road cycling, track cycling and mountain biking...
event.
Neumannová retired after the 2006-07 World Cup season.
Career overview
Neumannová made her first appearance in the Winter Olympics in 1992 in Albertville. Her goal was only to gain experiences., However in all races (both individual and relay) she belonged to the best Czechoslovak athletes. Two years later in Lillehammer she was already among the best. She was 8th in 5 km classical and 6th in combination with 10 km free.Her training during summer involved riding mountain bike and when the sport become popular she decided to race in it. Thanks to her strong muscles she quickly achieved successes. In 1995, she won a bronze medal at the European Championships, and she also qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta.
Although cross-country skiing remained her main sport and her summer training was usually lighter she took preparations for Atlanta seriously. "This time I left out the pleasant period and started abruptly. Thanks to it I achieved results in athletic tests that I last run in junior categories" she said before Olympics. But her preparations were not in the best conditions. She practised in a cold weather in Šumava while great heat was expected for Atlanta race
On July 31, 1996 she became the first Czech female athlete to compete on both Winter and Summer Olympics when starting in the mountain bike race at the Georgia International Horse Park
Georgia International Horse Park
The Georgia International Horse Park is located in Conyers, Georgia, United States, 30 miles east of Atlanta.-History:...
in Conyers, USA
Conyers, Georgia
Conyers is the only city in Rockdale County, Georgia, USA. It is twenty-four miles east of Atlanta. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,689. Census estimates of 2005 indicate a population of 12,205. The city is the county seat of Rockdale County. By 2009, the reported population was...
. But the race itself was a horror for her. She fell of the bike early in the race. "I overrun about 15 racers but then a terrible crisis came upon me. I did not race anymore, I just wanted to finish," she described the race. She mainly complained about the terrible heat and said it was one of her worst experiences.
First major medal
Neumannová started the 1996/1997 season with a fourth place in the World Cup opener. The race took place in Kiruna and was run on 5 km free. Neumannová was content with the result but complained about soft snow she did not like. "If the track was more firm, I believe I would stand on the platform", she commented. At the end of the year she clearly dominated the Czech Championships on 5 km free and 10 km classic. She commented it was mainly training for her as the main goal for the season was World Championships. For it she announced a goal to finish among best six.Only two weeks later, on January 11 and 12, she achieved two second places in the World Cup. It was again on the 5 km and 10 km distances, but this time it was 5 km classic and 10 km free. The race was run in Hakuba, Japan on the tracks ready for 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
Career successes
- 1992 Olympics1992 Winter OlympicsThe 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 AlbertvilleAlbertvilleAlbertville 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:...
: 13. at 5 km classical, 14. at 15 km classical, 22. at 10 km free, 6. at relay - 1993 Junior cross country skiing world championships: 1. at 5 km classical, 3. at 15 km free
- 1994 Olympics1994 Winter OlympicsThe 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
in LillehammerLillehammeris a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
: 14. at 15 km classical, 6. at 10 km free, 8. at 5 km classical, 9. at relay - 1995 Nordic skiing world championships1995 FIS Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsThe FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1995 took place 9–19 March 1995 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. This marked the second time the championships were held outside of Europe...
: 11. at 5 km classical, 13. at combined, 7. at 15 km classical - 1996 Olympics1996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta: 18. Mountain Bike Cross Country "Neumannová ve vedru vzpomínala na mrazy", MF Dnes, 1996/07/31, page 19, available through http://mfdnes.newtonit.cz/default.asp?cache=366161 (registration needed) - 1997 3. at Cross-country skiing World Cup
- 1997 Nordic skiing world championships1997 FIS Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsThe FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1997 took place February 21-March 2, 1997 in Trondheim, Norway. This event was the first time in consecutive championships that the number or type of events did not change since 1966 and 1970...
: 3. at 15 km free, 4. at combined, 6. at 5 km classical - 1998 Olympics1998 Winter OlympicsThe 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano: 2. at 5 km classical, 10 km free 3. místo, 15 km classical, 9. místo, 6. at relay - 1998 1. at Mountain bikeMountain bikeA mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
Czech Cup - 1998 1. at Czech Mountain bike Championships, Velké LosinyVelké LosinyVelké Losiny is a village and municipality in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It covers an area of , and has a population of 2,832 and lies approximately north-east of Šumperk, north of Olomouc, and east of Prague...
- 1999 Nordic skiing world championships1999 FIS Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsThe FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1999 took place February 19-28, 1999 in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria. The 7.5 km Nordic combined sprint event debuted at these championships.- 10 km classical :February 22, 1999- 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit :...
: 3. at 5 km classical - 1999 3. at Mountain bike Czech Cup
- 1999 1. at Czech Mountain bike Championships, MostMostMost is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:...
- 2000 Czech Mountain bike Championships, OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, 1. at relay (with Kořínek and Kášek) - 2000 2. at Czech Mountain bike Championships, Velké LosinyVelké LosinyVelké Losiny is a village and municipality in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It covers an area of , and has a population of 2,832 and lies approximately north-east of Šumperk, north of Olomouc, and east of Prague...
- 2001 9. at Cross-country skiing World Cup
- 2002 2. at Cross-country skiing World Cup
- 2002 Olympics2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City: 2. at 15 km free, 2. at combined, 4. at relay, 9. at sprint - 2002 Czech Championships, Jablonec nad Nisou: 1. at 5 km classical
- 2002 2. at Cross-country skiing World Cup
- 2004 9. at Cross-country skiing World Cup
- 2005 Nordic skiing world championships2005 FIS Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsThe FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2005 took place February 16-27, 2005 in Oberstdorf, Germany for the second time after hosting it previously in 1987. The ski jumping team normal hill returned after not being held in 2003...
: 1. at 10 km free, 7. at 30 km classical, 7. at pursuit - 2006 Olympics2006 Winter OlympicsThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
: 1. at 30 km free, 2. at pursuit, 5. at 10 km classical - 2007 Nordic skiing world championships: 2. at 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit, 1. at 10 km free
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009
In late 2006, Neumannová was named an honorary vice president of the organizing committee for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 at LiberecLiberec
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....
, Czech Republic. On July 25, 2007, she succeeded Roman Kumpost as chair of the organizing committee for the 2009 championships.
