Czech Republic at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Encyclopedia
The Czech Republic
competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics
in Lillehammer
, Norway
.
It was the first Winter Games since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
, and so the Czech Republic and Slovakia
competed as independent teams.
Cross-country skier Pavel Benc
was the flag-bearer of the country in the opening ceremony – he thus had a chance to lead the last Winter Olympic Czechoslovak team in Albertville and the first ever Czech team in Albertville.
Although the three medals won by Czechoslovakia in Albertville in 1992 were all won by Czech athletes, the result of Lillehammer Olympics were less satisfying as fifth places of ice hockey and Nordic combined teams were the Czech Republic’s best results. It can be explained with the growth of competition as the former Soviet Union countries entered their athletes (only Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics besides the Unified Team
).
Biathlon
Men
Women
Bobsleigh
Jiří Džmura
and Pavel Polomský
became most successful Czech bobsledders in Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track. They finished fifth in the first run of two-men bobsleigh competition, falling slowly in the results to eventually finish in seventh tied with Canada’s Pierre Lueders
. In the four-men competition, the Czech team went through the competition in the opposite manner – starting 14th and moving up step by step to the 10th-place finish with a fifth best fourth run.
Cross-country skiing
Kateřina Neumannová
presented a huge leap in form since last Olympics, finishing only 13 seconds behind podium in 5 km classical and moving up to sixth place in the pursuit. She recorded the second best time on her third leg of women’s relay (losing only to Russia’s Nina Gavriliuk) and had the leading role in the ninth place finish of the Czech relay team as other women had 11th to 13th times in their respective legs.
Men participated with almost the same squad like in Albertville, but their performances were far worse than in French Alps.
Men
Women
Figure skating
Radka Kovaříková
and René Novotný
were fourth in the 1992 Winter Olympics
and in 1994 they recorded their fourth consecutive fourth place in the European Championships. Two great pairs-champions however returned this season and were great favorites, which was confirmed as 1988 Olympic champions Ekaterina Gordeeva
and Sergei Grinkov
beat 1992 Olympic champions Nataliya Mishkutenok and Artur Dmitriev
. The Czech couple was not able to fight for a medal in such competition. It finished fifth in the short program, but fell down to sixth in a free program behind United States’ Jenni Meno
and Todd Sand
. The next year Kovaříková and Novotný however won the Figure Skating World Championships and turned professionals.
Kateřina Mrázová and Martin Šimeček recorded their best Olympic finish in ice dancing competition in eighth place in a competition crowned by Jayne Torvill
and Christopher Dean
comeback to the Olympics, 10 years after their revolutionary Bolero.
Women
Pairs
Ice Dancing
Ice hockey
Czech Republic arrived to Lillehammer as the unbeaten winner of the recent Globen Cup, the Swedish part of the European Hockey Tour. The Olympic tournament however had a rather different result. Finland, at the start of the tournament not supposed to be a favorite, was in the lead since the fifth minute power play goal, following three games added the compulsory victories but only win over Germany coached by Luděk Bukač was supported by a good play. The team was not able to beat any of the strong European team and lost to Russia 3-4 to leave it in fourth place in group but to finish only third behind Finland, which hammered Russia, and Germany.
The standings in the other group set a tie against Canada in the quarterfinals. The Czechs lead twice in the game and Canada scores the tying goal five minutes to the end of regulation. In the overtime, Paul Kariya
scored the sudden-death power-play goal (Horák served the penalty). The Czechs had to settle with the 5-8th places classification games and avoided surprise beating United States 5-3 after losing to them 0-2 early in the first period. The 5th to 6th place game was the first confrontation of former compatriots, but Slovakia was overmotivated and outplayed 7-1 (the game was decided in the first period, despite losing 0-1 in third minute, the Czechs won it 5-1).
Canada eliminated Czech Republic also in the 1994 World Championships; the two 5th place finishes forced Ivan Hlinka
to withdraw. His successor Luděk Bukač then leads Czech Republic to the 1996 World Championships title, first since 1985 and first of four titles in six years.
Results
Nordic combined
The team competition brought a surprising result for the Czech Republic which eventually occurred to be one of the biggest successes of the whole Olympic team. Zbyněk Pánek, Milan Kučera and František Máka all had one good and one worse jump in the ski-jumping competition (Pánek and Kučera were better in first round, Máka who was better cross-country skier bettered his result in second round). The Czechs started the cross-country relay in sixth place, 10:50 minutes behind sovereign Japanese jumpers.
The relay was not a dramatic one, as no change happened from first to fourth place, Zbyněk Pánek moved the Czechs past Austria to fifth place already in the first leg. Milan Kučera held the place despite his worse cross-country performance and František Máka brought the relay home in fifth ahead of fast finishing France.
Ski Jumping
Two-time team Olympic medalist Jiří Parma
was below par in Lillehammer and thus only Jaroslav Sakala
managed to record a good individual result in Lillehammer, finishing seventh in large hill competition, but he did not improve in the next two competitions. In the team competition Parma was the weakest member of the team as Zbyněk Krompolc surprisingly recorded best results of the whole team.
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....
competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 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 Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is 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...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
It was the first Winter Games since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
, and so the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Slovakia at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Slovakia competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.It was the first Winter Games since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, and so the Czech Republic and Slovakia competed as independent teams.- Alpine skiing:Women...
competed as independent teams.
Cross-country skier Pavel Benc
Pavel Benc
Pavel Benc is a Czech cross country skier who raced from 1985 to 1997. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 kilometer event at the 1988 Winter Olympics. His best individual Winter Olympics finish was a 25th in the 30 kilometer event, during the 1994 Winter Olympics...
was the flag-bearer of the country in the opening ceremony – he thus had a chance to lead the last Winter Olympic Czechoslovak team in Albertville and the first ever Czech team in Albertville.
Although the three medals won by Czechoslovakia in Albertville in 1992 were all won by Czech athletes, the result of Lillehammer Olympics were less satisfying as fifth places of ice hockey and Nordic combined teams were the Czech Republic’s best results. It can be explained with the growth of competition as the former Soviet Union countries entered their athletes (only Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics besides the Unified Team
Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics
The Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville was a joint team consisting of six of the fifteen former Soviet republics: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Armenia. The Unified Team's only other appearance was at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona...
).
BiathlonBiathlon at the 1994 Winter OlympicsThe 1994 Winter Olympics Biathlon results.The sport of biathlon combines the skills of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.- 10 km :February 23, 1994- 20 km :February 20, 1994One missed target equals a one minute penalty.- 4 x 7.5 km relay :...
Men
| Athlete | Event | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Pen. | Rank | ||
| Petr Garabík | 10 km Sprint | 30:31.2 | 1 | 21 |
| 20 km Individual | 59:48.9 | 1 | 11 | |
| Jiří Holubec | 10 km Sprint | 30:45.2 | 2 | 29 |
| 20 km Individual | 1:00:18.9 | 1 | 17 | |
| Tomáš Kos | 10 km Sprint | 31:52.0 | 1 | 46 |
| Ivan Masařík | 20 km Individual | 1:01:46.0 | 3 | 34 |
| Petr Garabík Tomáš Kos Ivan Masařík Jiří Holubec |
4 x 7.5 km Relay | 1:35:26.0 | 0 | 12 |
Women
| Athlete | Event | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Pen. | Rank | ||
| Irena Česneková | 15 km Individual | 59:29.0 | 4 | 50 |
| Eva Háková | 7.5 km Sprint | 26:48.2 | 1 | 9 |
| 15 km Individual | 57:43.2 | 6 | 35 | |
| Iveta Knížková | 7.5 km Sprint | 28:18.3 | 3 | 34 |
| 15 km Individual | 57:23.7 | 6 | 34 | |
| Jiřína Pelcová | 7.5 km Sprint | 29:23.0 | 3 | 49 |
| 15 km Individual | 58:07.3 | 3 | 37 | |
| Gabriela Suvová | 7.5 km Sprint | 30:25.8 | 4 | 63 |
| Jana Kulhavá Jiřína Pelcová Iveta Knížková Eva Háková |
4 x 7.5 km Relay | 1:57:00.8 | 3 | 7 |
BobsleighBobsleigh at the 1994 Winter OlympicsThe 1994 Winter Olympic Games Bobsleigh results- Two-man :February 19/February 20, 1994- Four-man :February 26/February 27, 1994- Medal table :- References :**...
Jiří DžmuraJirí Džmura
Jiří Džmura is a Czechoslovakian-Czech bobsledder who competed from the early 1990s to 2005. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of seventh in the two-man event at Lillehammer in 1994....
and Pavel Polomský
Pavel Polomský
Pavel Polomský is a Czechoslovakian-Czech bobsledder who competed from the mid 1990s to 2005. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of seventh in the two-man event at Lillehammer in 1994....
became most successful Czech bobsledders in Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track. They finished fifth in the first run of two-men bobsleigh competition, falling slowly in the results to eventually finish in seventh tied with Canada’s Pierre Lueders
Pierre Lueders
Pierre Fritz Lueders is a Canadian bobsledder who competed from 1990 to 2010. He piloted both two-man and four-man bobsleigh, retiring after the 2010 Winter Olympics...
. In the four-men competition, the Czech team went through the competition in the opposite manner – starting 14th and moving up step by step to the 10th-place finish with a fifth best fourth run.
| Athlete | Event | Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 | Run 2 | Run 3 | Run 4 | Total | Rank | ||
| Jiří Dzmura Jirí Džmura Jiří Džmura is a Czechoslovakian-Czech bobsledder who competed from the early 1990s to 2005. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of seventh in the two-man event at Lillehammer in 1994.... Pavel Polomský Pavel Polomský Pavel Polomský is a Czechoslovakian-Czech bobsledder who competed from the mid 1990s to 2005. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of seventh in the two-man event at Lillehammer in 1994.... |
Two-man | 52.66 | 53.18 | 53.02 | 53.32 | 3:32.18 | 7 |
| Pavel Puškár Jan Kobián Jan Kobián Jan Kobián is a Czech bobsledder who has competed since 1992. Competing in five Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of eighth in the two-man event at Nagano in 1998.... |
Two-man | 53.44 | 53.42 | 53.54 | 53.85 | 3:34.25 | 20 |
| Jiří Dzmura Pavel Puškár Pavel Polomský Jan Kobián |
Four-man | 52.35 | 52.45 | 52.31 | 52.40 | 3:29.51 | 10 |
Cross-country skiingCross-country skiing at the 1994 Winter Olympics-10 km:17 February 1994-15 km pursuit:19 February 1994-30 km:14 February 1994-50 km:27 February 1994-4 x 10 km relay:22 February 1994...
Kateřina NeumannováKaterina Neumannová
Kateřina Neumannová is a retired Czech cross country skier. She was a flatwater canoeist and downhill skier before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen...
presented a huge leap in form since last Olympics, finishing only 13 seconds behind podium in 5 km classical and moving up to sixth place in the pursuit. She recorded the second best time on her third leg of women’s relay (losing only to Russia’s Nina Gavriliuk) and had the leading role in the ninth place finish of the Czech relay team as other women had 11th to 13th times in their respective legs.
Men participated with almost the same squad like in Albertville, but their performances were far worse than in French Alps.
Men
| Athlete | Event | Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Rank | Time | Rank | Total | Rank | ||
| Pavel Benc Pavel Benc Pavel Benc is a Czech cross country skier who raced from 1985 to 1997. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 kilometer event at the 1988 Winter Olympics. His best individual Winter Olympics finish was a 25th in the 30 kilometer event, during the 1994 Winter Olympics... |
10 km Classical | 27:38.6 | 65 | ||||
| 15 km Free Pursuit | +03:18 | 65 | 38:06.1 | 18 | +5:35.3 | 36 | |
| 30 km Free | 1:18:49.5 | 25 | |||||
| Lubomír Buchta | 10 km Classical | 26:17.6 | 26 | ||||
| 15 km Free Pursuit | +01:57 | 26 | 38:37.0 | 33 | +4:45.2 | 24 | |
| 50 km Classical | 2:14:50.0 | 20 | |||||
| Václav Korunka Václav Korunka Václav Korunka is a former Czechoslovakian cross country skier who raced from 1988 to 1999. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary while his best individual Winter Olympics finish was a 13th in the 50 km event in 1992.Korunka also won a... |
10 km Classical | 27:22.8 | 59 | ||||
| 15 km Free Pursuit | +03:02 | 59 | 38:40.0 | 34 | +5:53.2 | 37 | |
| Martin Petrásek Martin Petrásek Martin Petrásek is a former Czech cross country skier who raced from 1988 to 2001. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1989 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and also finished 10th in the 10 km event at the 1991 championships.Petrásek's best individual finish at the Winter... |
10 km Classical | 28:10.0 | 71 | ||||
| 15 km Free Pursuit | +03:50 | 71 | 40:13.8 | 53 | +8:15.0 | 58 | |
| 50 km Classical | DNF | ||||||
| Jiří Teplý Jirí Teplý Jiří Teplý was a Czechoslovakian-Czech cross country skier who competed from 1991 to 1995. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best career and individual finishes of eighth in the 4 × 10 km relay and 17th in the 30 km event, respectively, both at Lillehammer in 1994.Teplý's best finish... |
30 km Free | 1:17:37.8 | 17 | ||||
| Ondrej Valenta | 30 km Free | 1:20:04.1 | 34 | ||||
| 50 km Classical | 2:26:08.6 | 58 | |||||
| Lubomír Buchta Václav Korunka Jiří Teplý Pavel Benc |
4 x 10 km Relay | 1:47:12.6 | 8 | ||||
Women
| Athlete | Event | Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Rank | Time | Rank | Total | Rank | ||
| Lucie Chroustovská | 15 km Free | 47:37.8 | 48 | ||||
| 30 km Classical | 1:36:07.8 | 39 | |||||
| Kateřina Neumannová Katerina Neumannová Kateřina Neumannová is a retired Czech cross country skier. She was a flatwater canoeist and downhill skier before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen... |
5 km Classical | 14:49.6 | 8 | ||||
| 10 km Free Pursuit | +00:41 | 8 | 28:00.8 | 6 | +1:11.7 | 6 | |
| 15 km Free | 43:25.1 | 14 | |||||
| Jana Rázlová | 5 km Classical | 16:39.7 | 55 | ||||
| 10 km Free Pursuit | +02:31 | 55 | 33:07.8 | 52 | +8:08.7 | 52 | |
| 30 km Classical | 1:36:40.9 | 42 | |||||
| Martina Vondrová | 5 km Classical | 16:27.3 | 47 | ||||
| 10 km Free Pursuit | +02:19 | 47 | 31:24.9 | 42 | +6:13.8 | 44 | |
| 15 km Free | 45:29.1 | 31 | |||||
| 30 km Classical | 1:34:50.1 | 36 | |||||
| Iveta Zelingerová Iveta Zelingerová Iveta Zelingerová-Fortová was a Czechoslovakian-Czech cross country skier who competed from 1992 to 1998. Competing in three Winter Olympics, she eanred her best finishes at Albertville with sixth overall in the 4 × 5 km relay and 18th individually in the 5 km event.Zelingerová's best finish at... |
5 km Classical | 16:15.6 | 43 | ||||
| 10 km Free Pursuit | +02:07 | 43 | 30:25.2 | 31 | +5:02.1 | 33 | |
| 15 km Free | 46:56.3 | 41 | |||||
| 30 km Classical | DNF | ||||||
| Martina Vondrová Iveta Zelingerová Kateřina Neumannová Lucie Chroustovská |
4 x 5 km Relay | 1:02:02.1 | 9 | ||||
Figure skatingFigure skating at the 1992 Winter OlympicsReferee:* Benjamin T. WrightAssistant Referee:* Monique GeorgelinJudges: Reinhard Mirmseker Mary Pearson Yang Jiasheng Monique Petis Mieko Fujimori Ingelise Blangsted Igor Prokop Vanessa Riley* Marina Sanaya Maragaret Ann Wier...
Radka KovaříkováRadka Kovaríková
Radka Kovaříková is a Czech pair skater. She skates with partner René Novotný. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro...
and René Novotný
René Novotný
René Novotný is a Czech pair skater. He skates with partner Radka Kovaříková. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro...
were fourth in 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...
and in 1994 they recorded their fourth consecutive fourth place in the European Championships. Two great pairs-champions however returned this season and were great favorites, which was confirmed as 1988 Olympic champions Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating...
and Sergei Grinkov
Sergei Grinkov
Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov was a Russian pair skater. Together with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva, he was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion.-Biography:...
beat 1992 Olympic champions Nataliya Mishkutenok and Artur Dmitriev
Artur Dmitriev
Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic Champion with Natalia Mishkutenok and Oksana Kazakova in 1992 and 1998 respectively, and also won Olympic silver in 1994...
. The Czech couple was not able to fight for a medal in such competition. It finished fifth in the short program, but fell down to sixth in a free program behind United States’ Jenni Meno
Jenni Meno
Jenni Meno is an American pair skater. She first partnered with Scott Wendland and won two medals at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She began skating with her future husband Todd Sand in April 1992...
and Todd Sand
Todd Sand
Todd Sand is an American pairs skater. He currently skates professionally with wife Jenni Meno.-Life and career:Sand was born in Burbank, California. He has dual American and Danish citizenship and early in his career, he represented Denmark as a single skater...
. The next year Kovaříková and Novotný however won the Figure Skating World Championships and turned professionals.
Kateřina Mrázová and Martin Šimeček recorded their best Olympic finish in ice dancing competition in eighth place in a competition crowned by Jayne Torvill
Jayne Torvill
Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:...
and Christopher Dean
Christopher Dean
Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill...
comeback to the Olympics, 10 years after their revolutionary Bolero.
Women
| Athlete | Final | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Program | Rank | Free Skating | Total | Rank | |||||
| Lenka Kulovaná Lenka Kulovaná Lenka Kulovaná is a Czech retired competitive figure skater. She is a multiple Czech national champion. She placed 11th at the 1992 Winter Olympics , 13th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, and 18th at the 1998 Winter Olympics. She retired following the 1998 World Figure Skating... |
5.5 | 11 | 14.0 | 19.5 | 13 | ||||
| Irena Zemanová Irena Zemanová Irena Zemanová is a Czech retired competitive figure skater. She placed 27th at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Her highest placement at an ISU Championship was 9th at the 1994 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and her highest placement at a senior ISU Championship was 13th at the 1994 European... |
13.5 | 27 | Did not advance | ||||||
Pairs
| Athlete | Final | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Program | Rank | Free Skating | Total | Rank | |||||
| Radka Kovaříková Radka Kovaríková Radka Kovaříková is a Czech pair skater. She skates with partner René Novotný. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro... René Novotný René Novotný René Novotný is a Czech pair skater. He skates with partner Radka Kovaříková. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro... |
2.5 | 5 | 6.0 | 8.5 | 6 | ||||
Ice Dancing
| Athlete | Final | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Dance 1 | Rank | Compulsory Dance 2 | Rank | Original Dance | Rank | Free Dance | Total | Rank | |
| Radmila Chroboková Milan Brzý |
3.2 | 16 | 3.2 | 16 | 9.6 | 16 | 16.0 | 32.0 | 16 |
| Kateřina Mrázová Katerina Mrázová Kateřina Mrázová is a Czech retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Martin Šimeček, she is a multiple Czech national champion. They placed 10th at the 1992 Winter Olympics , 8th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, and 13th at the 1998 Winter Olympics... Martin Šimeček Martin Šimecek Martin Šimeček is a Czech retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Kateřina Mrázová, he is a multiple Czech national champion. They placed 10th at the 1992 Winter Olympics , 8th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, and 13th at the 1998 Winter Olympics... |
1.6 | 8 | 1.6 | 8 | 4.8 | 8 | 8.0 | 16.0 | 8 |
Ice hockeyIce hockey at the 1994 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at the Fjellhallen in Gjøvik and the Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. The competition, held from February 12 to February 27, was won by Sweden and Canada as runner-up.-Final rankings:Source:* Gold -...
Czech Republic arrived to Lillehammer as the unbeaten winner of the recent Globen Cup, the Swedish part of the European Hockey Tour. The Olympic tournament however had a rather different result. Finland, at the start of the tournament not supposed to be a favorite, was in the lead since the fifth minute power play goal, following three games added the compulsory victories but only win over Germany coached by Luděk Bukač was supported by a good play. The team was not able to beat any of the strong European team and lost to Russia 3-4 to leave it in fourth place in group but to finish only third behind Finland, which hammered Russia, and Germany.The standings in the other group set a tie against Canada in the quarterfinals. The Czechs lead twice in the game and Canada scores the tying goal five minutes to the end of regulation. In the overtime, Paul Kariya
Paul Kariya
Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League . Known as a skilled and fast-skating offensive player, he played in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St...
scored the sudden-death power-play goal (Horák served the penalty). The Czechs had to settle with the 5-8th places classification games and avoided surprise beating United States 5-3 after losing to them 0-2 early in the first period. The 5th to 6th place game was the first confrontation of former compatriots, but Slovakia was overmotivated and outplayed 7-1 (the game was decided in the first period, despite losing 0-1 in third minute, the Czechs won it 5-1).
Canada eliminated Czech Republic also in the 1994 World Championships; the two 5th place finishes forced Ivan Hlinka
Ivan Hlinka
Ivan Hlinka was a Czech professional ice hockey player and coach. He was one of the most important figures in Czech ice hockey.-Playing career:...
to withdraw. His successor Luděk Bukač then leads Czech Republic to the 1996 World Championships title, first since 1985 and first of four titles in six years.
- Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Petr BřízaPetr BrízaPetr Bříza is a former Czech ice hockey goaltender. He played in goal on the bronze medal winning ice hockey team for Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Winter Olympics.-External links:*...
, Roman TurekRoman TurekRoman Turek is a retired Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames in a 9-year National Hockey League career...
, Jaroslav Kameš - Defenders: Drahomír KadlecDrahomír KadlecDrahomír Kadlec is a Czech former ice hockey defenceman.Kadlec played in the Czech Extraliga for HC Kladno, HC Dukla Jihlava, HC Zlín, HC Litvínov and HC Slezan Opava...
, Jan VopatJan VopatJan Vopat is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 126 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators.He is the older brother of former NHL centre, Roman Vopat....
, Bedřich ŠčerbanBedrich ŠcerbanBedřich Ščerban is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman.Ščerban began his career with HC Dukla Jihlava of the Czech Extraliga in 1986. In 1991, he moved to Finland's SM-liiga, spending one season with Tappara before moving the Sweden's Elitserien with Brynäs IF...
, Antonín StavjaňaAntonín StavjanaAntonín Stavjaňa is a retired professional ice hockey player.Stavjaňa played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga for HC Dukla Trenčín, TJ Gottwaldov and HC Zlín. He then moved to Finland for Jokipojat and in Sweden for HV71 before returning to the Extraliga with HC Vsetín...
, Jiří VykoukalJiří VykoukalJiří Vykoukal is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 10th round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft....
, Miloslav HořavaMiloslav HoravaMiloslav Hořava is a Czech ice hockey coach and former player. He played on the Silver medal winning ice hockey team at the 1984 Winter Olympics and bronze medal winning team at the 1992 Winter Olympics for Czechoslovakia....
, Jiří Veber - Forwards: Otakar JaneckýOtakar JaneckýOtakar Janecký is a retired Czech ice hockey forward.In his homeland Janecký represented HC Pardubice, his birthcity team for his entire Czechoslovak Extraliga and Czech Extraliga career....
, Jiří Kučera, Jiří DoležalJiří DoležalJiří Doležal is a Czech professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga.Doležal previously played for HC Baník Most.-External links:...
, Tomáš SršeňTomáš SršenTomáš "Vosa" Sršeň is a retired Czech professional ice hockey left wing who played most of his career in Europe....
, Martin HostákMartin HostákMartin Hosták is a retired Czech professional ice hockey player. He spent most of his hockey career in the Czech Republic and Sweden but spent parts of two National Hockey League seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.Nowadays, he works as an expert and co-comentator for Czech TV.-External links:...
, Kamil KašťákKamil KaštákKamil Kašťák is a Czech former ice hockey player.Kašťák played in the Czech Extraliga for Dukla Jihlava, HC Litvinov, HC Sparta Prague and HC Plzen...
, Pavel Geffert, Petr HrbekPetr HrbekPetr Hrbek is a Czech ice hockey player currently playing for Chemnitzer RSC in the German Regionalliga....
, Petr HrbekPetr HrbekPetr Hrbek is a Czech ice hockey player currently playing for Chemnitzer RSC in the German Regionalliga....
, Richard ŽemličkaRichard ŽemlickaRichard Žemlička played on 1992 Bronze Medal winning Olympic ice hockey team for Czechoslovakia.6'1, 200 lb Forward.9th round draft choice of the Edmonton Oilers in 1990.- References :...
, Jan Alinč, Radek ŤoupalRadek ToupalRadek Ťoupal is a former ice hockey player. His debut in Czechoslovak ice hockey league came in season 1982/1983, playing for HC České Budějovice, when he was only 16. During an army duty spent two years playing for Slovakian club HC Dukla Trenčín...
, Roman HorakRoman Horak (ice hockey b. 1969)Roman Horak is a retired Czech professional ice hockey player who played 14 seasons in the European Elite leagues.He played for the Czech Republic at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-External links:...
, Tomáš Kapusta - Coaches: Ivan HlinkaIvan HlinkaIvan Hlinka was a Czech professional ice hockey player and coach. He was one of the most important figures in Czech ice hockey.-Playing career:...
, Stanislav Neveselý
- Goalkeepers: Petr Bříza
Results
| Stage | Opponent | Result | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  Finland |
1-3 | ||
| Group Stage |  Austria |
7-3 | ||
| Group Stage |  Germany |
1-0 | ||
| Group Stage |  Norway |
4-1 | ||
| Group Stage |  Russia |
3-4 | ||
| Group Stage | 16-11 | 6 | 3 | |
| Quarterfinal |  Canada |
2-3 | ||
| Placement Round 5-8 |  United States |
5-3 | ||
| 5th Place Match |  Slovakia |
7-1 | 5 |
Nordic combinedNordic combined at the 1992 Winter OlympicsThe 1992 Winter Olympic Games Nordic Combined resultsThe venue was Courchevel, a ski resort 50 kilometers from host city Albertville.-Medals:-Individual:February 12, 1992-3 x 10 km relay:February 18, 1992-References:*...
The team competition brought a surprising result for the Czech Republic which eventually occurred to be one of the biggest successes of the whole Olympic team. Zbyněk Pánek, Milan Kučera and František Máka all had one good and one worse jump in the ski-jumping competition (Pánek and Kučera were better in first round, Máka who was better cross-country skier bettered his result in second round). The Czechs started the cross-country relay in sixth place, 10:50 minutes behind sovereign Japanese jumpers.The relay was not a dramatic one, as no change happened from first to fourth place, Zbyněk Pánek moved the Czechs past Austria to fifth place already in the first leg. Milan Kučera held the place despite his worse cross-country performance and František Máka brought the relay home in fifth ahead of fast finishing France.
| Athlete | Event | First Round | Second Round | Cross-country | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Rank | Points | Total | Rank | Start | Time | Rank | Total | Rank | ||
| Miroslav Kopal Miroslav Kopal Miroslav Kopal was a Czechoslovakian-Czech nordic combined skier who competed from 1984 to 1996. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, he finished sixth in the 3 × 10 km and seventh in the 15 km individual events.... |
Individual event | 80.0 | 48 | 85.0 | 165.0 | 48 | +09:06 | DNF | |||
| Milan Kučera | Individual event | 102.5 | 17 | 91.5 | 194.0 | 24 | +05:53 | 41:29.5 | 36 | 47:22.5 | 31 |
| František Máka František Maka František Maka was a Czechoslovakian-Czech nordic combined skier who competed from 1990 to 1997. Competing in two Winter Olympics in the 3 × 10 km team event, he finished sixth in 1992 and fifth in 1994.... |
Individual event | 99.5 | 24 | 102.0 | 201.5 | 17 | +05:03 | 40:23.2 | 22 | 45:26.2 | 18 |
| Zbyněk Pánek Zbynek Pánek Zbyněk Pánek was a Czech nordic combined skier who competed from 1991 to 1995. He finished fifth in the 3 × 10 km team event at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.... |
Individual event | 89.5 | 41 | 81.5 | 171.0 | 41 | +08:26 | 38:58.0 | 5 | 47:24.0 | 34 |
| Zbyněk Pánek Milan Kučera František Máka |
Team event | 306.0 | 6 | 297.5 | 603.5 | 6 | +10:50 | 1:24:05.9 | 6 | 1:34:55.9 | 5 |
Ski JumpingSki jumping at the 1992 Winter OlympicsThe 1992 Winter Olympic Games Ski Jumping resultsThe venue was Courchevel, a ski resort 50 kilometers from host city Albertville.-Medals:-Large hill:February 16, 1992-Normal hill:February 9, 1992-Team large hill:February 14, 1992-References:*...
Two-time team Olympic medalist Jiří ParmaJirí Parma
Jiři Parma is a former Czechoslovakian ski jumper who competed from 1981 to 1996.At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, he won a bronze medal in the team large hill....
was below par in Lillehammer and thus only Jaroslav Sakala
Jaroslav Sakala
Jaroslav Sakala 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...
managed to record a good individual result in Lillehammer, finishing seventh in large hill competition, but he did not improve in the next two competitions. In the team competition Parma was the weakest member of the team as Zbyněk Krompolc surprisingly recorded best results of the whole team.
| Athlete | Event | First Round | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Rank | Points | Total | Rank | ||
| Ladislav Dluhoš Ladislav Dluhoš Ladislav Dluhoš is a former Czechoslovakian ski jumper who competed from 1984 to 1995. He earned two bronze medals in the Team large hill event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships , and earned his best individual finish of 6th in the individual large hill in 1989.Dluhoš's best finish at the... |
Large hill | 67.4 | 38 | 74.4 | 141.8 | 30 |
| Normal hill | 108.5 | 31 | DSQ | |||
| Zbyněk Krompolc Zbynek Krompolc Zbyněk Krompolc was a Czech ski jumper who competed from 1994 to 1999. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, he finished seventh in the team large hill and 29th in the individual large hill events.... |
Large hill | 90.2 | 24 | 61.2 | 151.4 | 29 |
| Normal hill | 106.0 | 35 | 83.5 | 189.5 | 36 | |
| Jiří Parma Jirí Parma Jiři Parma is a former Czechoslovakian ski jumper who competed from 1981 to 1996.At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, he won a bronze medal in the team large hill.... |
Large hill | 88.1 | 25 | 36.6 | 124.7 | 39 |
| Normal hill | 118.0 | 18 | 108.5 | 226.5 | 19 | |
| Jaroslav Sakala Jaroslav Sakala Jaroslav Sakala 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... |
Large hill | 113.1 | 9 | 108.9 | 222.0 | 7 |
| Normal hill | 109.0 | 30 | 126.0 | 235.0 | 13 | |
| Zbyněk Krompolc Jaroslav Sakala Ladislav Dluhoš Jiří Parma |
Team Large Hill | 401.9 | 8 | 398.8 | 800.7 | 7 |