The first ever indoor World Cup delivered a groundbreaking spectacle in Lievin and gave fans of triathlon plenty to discuss. Over the shortest format contested yet at the World Cup level, with races lasting barely 10 minutes, speed was the order of the day. Quick wits proved as important as being physically fast as the threat of elimination was never far away. Here are five things we took away from the action at the weekend, and you can watch it all back on demand over on TriathlonLive.tv.

1. Home team impresses

A regular on the Para Cup circuit, it had been a long time since France had hosted a World Cup event – the last one was in Lorient in 2008 – and the home team more than made up for lost time as they put two athletes into the women’s final and four into the men’s. Of the finalists, a few names caught the eye.

Vincent Luis (FRA) was a constant threat throughout each round of racing. He qualified safely in 4th place in the sixth qualifier before claiming 3rd place in the third semi-final. The former world champion then rounded things off with 2nd place in the final. In doing so he claimed his first World Cup medal in several years and offered a clear sign that his return from injury is gathering momentum.

On the other end of the experience spectrum, Leo Fernandez (FRA) dazzled on his way to the final in the men’s event. In his World Cup debut, the 2022 European Junior Champion even took the lead early on during the run. While he would eventually slip back to 6th place, Fernandez certainly brought the home crowd to their feet.

Also taking a star turn was Leonie Periault (FRA). The WTCS medallist stepped up in the women’s final to take 4th place and was seconds away from claiming a medal.

2. A tale of two medallists

Laura Lindemann (GER) looked in fantastic form as she charged to the gold medal in the women’s event. The German star has already qualified for the Olympics and is coming off a big 2023 season in which she won multiple WTCS medals for the first time and anchored the German Mixed Team Relay to golds in Hamburg and Paris. The short format in Lievin proved perfect for her and offered further evidence that she might just be the preeminent woman over the relay distances and below.

Right behind Lindemann in Lievin was Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR). Whereas Lindemann arrived after a glittering 2023, Taylor-Brown had a trickier season ended prematurely by injury. Notwithstanding the fact that Taylor-Brown won WTCS Cagliari, she entered 2024 with plenty of uncertainty around her injury comeback and with a potential Olympic slot still up in the air.

In a sign that her form is coming right back, though, Taylor-Brown claimed the silver medal in Lievin. That came after she finished 3rd at the European Cup in Quarteira a week prior, and both performances were highly encouraging.

Thus, while Lindemann and Taylor-Brown arrived in Lievin in different places, both will no doubt be satisfied with how they are building into their season.

3. Stornes’ storming comeback

In the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Casper Stornes (NOR) was a rising force in triathlon. An upset win at WTCS Bermuda in 2018 preceded a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Test Event in 2019. However, after the early rise came the setback. Injury struck at the Arzachena World Cup in 2022, forcing him to rebuild.

After working his way back to full strength once more, Stornes made a significant step forwards in Lievin. Indeed, he made a double comeback of sorts.

On the one hand, he claimed his first World Cup medal. In doing so, he reasserted himself at the world level and served a reminder of his class. On the other hand, his bronze medal itself was the product of an electric comeback on the bike and then on the run. For much of the final, Stornes had seemed out of contention only for him to barrel down the finishing straight into the medals.

Whether in terms of returning from injury or in races, Stornes’ comeback antics will be something to watch across the season.

4. The near misses

After striking down Vincent Luis with his win at the Quarteira European Cup, Hugo Milner’s name was on the lips of many in Lievin. However, it was not to be his weekend as he narrowly missed out on making the semi-finals in both his qualifier and then the repechage. In both instances, he missed out by 2 seconds and one finishing position.

Meanwhile, the final highlighted the fine margins of the indoor format. Tim Hellwig (GER) expertly navigated the early rounds and found himself in the perfect position as he came off the bike in the final. However, a wobble on the dismount line left him fearing a potential penalty. With his mind elsewhere, he slipped from 1st place in the closing stages of the run to miss the podium in a photo finish.

One athlete to escape a mishap of his own was Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR). The Norwegian athlete revealed after his qualifier that he had completed a lap too many on the bike. He was nonetheless able to recover to take 4th place and claim the last semi-final slot from his heat, with a roaring 2:42 1km run split sparing his blushes followed by the overall gold to fire his own Paris 2024 mission.

5. Lightning splits

When it came to rapid splits, there were almost too many to count in Lievin. Zuzana Michalickova (SVK) and Mitch Kolkman (NED) were among the stars of the show in the water, with both leading out the swims in their respective finals. The Hungarian youngster Zalán Hóbor was another to catch the eye with his swimming speed in the qualifiers.

When it came to the bike, no one would match Hellwig’s 4:22 split from the first qualifier.

It was on the run that some of the greatest fireworks were produced. Gwen Jorgensen (USA) blasted a 3:01 1km in the women’s final to catapult herself to bronze. Her time would stand as the quickest by any woman on the door. Lindemann and Taylor-Brown managed splits of 3:04 and 3:02, respectively, in the final.

Another eye-catching run split came from Tereza Zimovjanova (CZE), clocking 3:05 to win the B Final.

On the men’s side, Stornes earned the fastest run of the day with his 2:39 in the men’s final. Thorn, Luis and Csongor Lehmann were all close behind with Final run splits of 2:41.

After all the excitement of Lievin, stay up to date with the action to come across the season on TriathlonLive and across World Triathlon social channels.

Ve velikonočním krajském přeboru si některé týmy vykoledovaly pořádnou nadílku bodů a některé i gólů do vlastní sítě. Počasí přálo velké návštěvnosti a fotbalové pohodě na mnoha hřištích. Při dobrém občerstvení fanoušci odpustili i prohru svých barev.

V dohrávaném utkání čtvrtfinále MOL Cupu, když v původním termínu se pro hustou mlhu nehrálo, přicestovali na jablonecký trávník fotbalisté plzeňské Viktorie. Viktorka byla v zápase favoritem, mluvilo pro ni nejen postavení obou týmů v ligové tabulce, ale také pohled do historie. A svoje postavení potvrdila vítězstvím 3:0.

Anketa o nejpopulárnější fotbalový klub v Libereckém kraji je u konce. O celkovém pořadí ve finále, do kterého se dostaly vždy tři nejlepší celky z jednotlivých okresů, rozhodlo celkem 71153 hlasů.

Velikonoční víkend v podobě bodové nadílky se nepovedl Turnovu, který "jen" remizoval s Hlinskem 0:0. Áčko Velkých Hamrů bylo šťastnější, vykoledovalo si od Spojů Praha tři body.

Pouze jediný gól rozhodl utkání sedmého a osmého týmu tabulky ČFL skupiny C. K vidění moc brankových šancí nebylo, tu největší domácí využili. I tak ale Kolínští na svém hřišti porazili rezervu Jablonce 1:0 a přiblížili se svému soupeři na dostřel jednoho bodu. 

It was exactly 35 years ago, on April 1, 1989, when the city of Avignon, France, played a pivotal role in the history of triathlon, hosting the first ITU Congress where the International Federation of Triathlon was founded. From its humble beginnings to its current global stature, World Triathlon has played a pivotal role in shaping the sport and fostering its growth on a global scale. Let’s celebrate together our 35 years of history!

Founded with the vision of promoting triathlon as a premier athletic pursuit, the organization has evolved under the leadership of two remarkable individuals, its first president, Canada’s Les McDonald, who laid the foundation for its success. Today, World Triathlon is guided by the visionary leadership of President Marisol Casado, whose dedication and passion have propelled the organization to new heights of excellence.

Over the past three and a half decades, World Triathlon has witnessed remarkable expansion and evolution of the sport of triathlon, including its inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic programs. Triathlon’s debut at the Olympics in Sydney 2000 marked a historic moment for the sport, with individual men’s and women’s events captivating audiences worldwide. The addition of the mixed relay event in Tokyo 2020 further solidified triathlon’s status as a cornerstone of the Olympic program, showcasing its dynamic and inclusive nature.

Central to World Triathlon’s mission are its key pillars: gender balance, development, sustainability, growth of the sport, and good governance. With a steadfast commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity, World Triathlon has championed initiatives to ensure gender parity in all aspects of the sport, from participation, prize money or leadership roles. Moreover, the organization has spearheaded efforts to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship, recognizing the importance of protecting the planet for future generations.

At the heart of World Triathlon’s success is its unwavering dedication to the growth and development of the sport. Through grassroots initiatives, youth programs, and elite competitions, World Triathlon has fostered a vibrant global community of athletes, coaches, and fans. Moreover, the organization’s emphasis on good governance and transparency has set the standard for integrity and accountability in sports administration.

As World Triathlon celebrates its 35th anniversary, it stands as a beacon of excellence and innovation in the world of sports. From its inception in Avignon to its present-day global reach, the organization continues to inspire athletes and fans alike with its commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and sustainability. As we look to the future, World Triathlon remains dedicated to advancing the sport and shaping a brighter, more equitable world through the power of triathlon.

It was not an easy day in the office for Vettle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR) in Lievin, but the Norwegian managed to overcome a complicated Heat (in which he did one extra lap on the bike), made it through the semi finals and then stormed the field in the Final, winning by just a few inches the local hero, Vincent Luis (FRA). Another Norwegian, Casper Stornes, found a last push in the last meters to claim bronze on the first World Cup medal for him in two years.

The World Triathlon Indoor Cup Lievin proved to be one for the records for Team Norway, with Vetle Thorn claiming his maiden World Cup title in a thrilling display while Casper Stornes clinched bronze, marking his first-ever podium finish in a World Cup event.

The Heats brought unexpected surprises, notably with Hugo Milner of Great Britain, known for his impressive run in Quarteira last week, failing to advance to the semi-finals after finishing fifth in both his Heat and the repechage.

In the semi-finals, the tension continued to mount as athletes fought tooth and nail for a coveted spot in the final. Tim Hellwig (GER), Samuel Dickinson (GBR), Gregor Payet (LUX), and Genis Grau (ESP) advanced from the first semi-final, while Aurelien Jen (FRA) thrilled the local fans by winning the second semi-final, alongside Casper Stornes, Antoine Duval (FRA), and Mitch Kolkman (NED). The last semi-final saw a thrilling sprint to the finish, with Vetle Thorn, Vincent Luis, Leo Fernandez (FRA), and Csongor Lehmann (HUN) booking their spots in the Final.

The stage was set for an electrifying showdown in the final, with Thorn and Kolkman leading out of the water before the field regrouped on the bike. With the pack riding together for 15 intense laps, tactics and strategy came into play as athletes jostled for position. In a daring move as soon as out of the second transition, Leo Fernandez surged ahead, followed closely by Thorn, Lehmann, and Luis, with Stornes biding his time at the back.

With the finish line in sight, Thorn and Stornes unleashed a burst of speed, attempting to break away from the chasing pack. However, Luis showcased his experience, finding an extra gear to surge past his rivals and secure second place. Thorn’s relentless pace proved insurmountable as he crossed the finish line to claim a historic victory, with Luis settling for silver and Stornes narrowly edging out Lehmann and Hellwig to snatch bronze.

“It was a long day for me, tough from the get-go. I did an extra lap on the bike in the first heat and really had to push the run to get through to the Semis, couldn’t really go much worse than it did to keep that fourth place in the end. Semis was a bit easier, where I could be with the front guys from the get-go. We were five guys together and I knew to be safe I had to put a little bit of effort for the sprint, all the way to the finish. Onto the Final, you’re tired after two really hard races. Nobody knows what they have to come with to the Finals, just to be at the front and pushing and going for the win at the end, it feels amazing. What a venue to do it at, I think it might have been the craziest crowd at a race I have ever been to. It’s amazing here”, said Thorn.

“It’s been a while (since my last World Cup podium), it was also a while since the last Continental Cup so 2nd was really good last week. This week I feel a bit more like myself, I was really in contention until literally the last couple of metres, I am happy with the result. It’s been a really long time since I worked a World Cup, I think it was 2019 in Banjoles. That was a long time without racing or a podium but I am happy to be back”, explained Luis, who has just returned to competition after an injury. “It’s crazy, everyone that’s raced here will have really good memories. The final felt like I was during the Olympic stadium. It was really great. The people in the north of France, they welcome you warmly and I am happy to be back here. It will definitely be the last time I will race here, that was a good way to say farewell to the crowd. Thanks again to the club and to the team at Lievin for organising this event.”

Stornes said: “It feels amazing. It’s been a rollercoaster these last few years. I am really over the moon to come here and get third place. It’s a bit mixed feelings as I don’t really know if I will get to the Olympics.(In the Semi-Finals) I was saving myself on the bike and on the last bit of the run. I was just hoping the other guys were a bit more tired than me so I could get that advantage, for a longer type of endurance guy but I am glad I could take a podium here,” he said.

With a fantastic final sprint, Laura Lindemann mastered the sizzling super-sprint format of the World Triathlon Indoor Cup Lievin, outsprinting in the last meters Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) and Gwen Jorgensen (USA) on an epic battle in the blue carpet.

The World Triathlon Indoor Cup in Lievin delivered a spectacle that will be hard to forget, with almost 3.000 espectators cheering on the stands, thrilled with the format that makes its debut on the World Cup circuit: 12 athletes line up on each race -6 heats for the men, 4 for the women- followed by three semi-finals for each gender and then the B final and A finals-. A 150m swim - 6 lengths of the pool with two athletes to a lane - is followed by a 15-lap, 3km bike and out onto the 5-lap, 1km run, with heats and repechage to decide the 36 athletes into three semi-finals per gender, the top four of each semi-final progressing into the final, the next four on the finish line of each semi-final into a B-final.

The stage was set for an exhilarating competition as 38 women lined up for the four Heats, all vying for a spot in the finals. With the top six from each Heat advancing, the pressure was on for athletes to deliver their best performances. Despite the intense competition, all the leading contenders navigated their heats successfully, except for Vicky Holland, the Rio 2016 bronze medalist, who faced disqualification for not serving a penalty during her Heat, that she in fact had won.

Leonie Periault, Laura Lindemann, Jessica Fullagar, and Audrey Merle secured their places in the Finals from the first semi-final, while Jolien Vermeylen, Lena Meissner, Georgia Taylor-Brown, and Zuzana Michalickova advanced from the second semi-final. The final semi-final saw Swiss athletes Nora Gmur and Cathia Schar dominate, with Gwen Jorgensen and Robin Dreijling earning their spots in the ultimate showdown.

As the finals commenced, Zuzana Michalickova once again demonstrated her prowess in the water, leading the field after the swimming leg. The athletes went through transition in one large pack and on the bike segment, a tight-knit group tackled 15 fast laps, with Jorgensen strategically conserving energy at the rear. Periault and Cathia Schar set a brisk pace, closely pursued by Taylor-Brown and Lindemann.

The tension mounted as the competitors hit the final transition, with Periault emerging as the frontrunner on the run, trailed closely by Michalickova, Lindemann, Vermeylen, and Taylor-Brown, while Jorgensen fought to close the gap. In a breathtaking climax, Lindemann summoned a burst of speed in the last lap, leaving her rivals trailing in her wake. Taylor-Brown managed to hold off Jorgensen, securing second place as the American claimed bronze. Periault, buoyed by local support, crossed the finish line in fourth, with Lena Meissner rounding out the top five.

“It was really hard, I think it was one of the toughest races I have ever done I think. I tried to follow and have some energy for the last metres but it really was all out from the beginning”, said Lindemann after claiming the victory.

“I am really happy with today, I don’t feel super run fit at the moment but I am getting there and it was really exciting today”, explained Taylor-Brown, who tried to save a bit of energy for the last leg, but was not really able to do it. “That was the idea (to save legs) but when you’re here and the atmosphere, you get carried away and I went harder than I wanted to in the heats and semis. The heats were a shock and it really hurt my throat because it’s such a dry air in here but everyone was the same but the Finals were really hard because it was busier and more compact on the bike and the run was super fast.”

“I came out here and I really wanted to treat this like my Abu Dhabi as the race was cancelled. I obviously came here to win but I got outdone by Laura (Lindemann) and Georgia (Taylor-Brown) and it was a really fun atmosphere, there are just so many people here in the crowd and it makes it really exciting, I’d like to see more of this format. It was really special,” said Jorgensen.

Tomáš Slavík se vrátil na stupně vítězů při druhém kole světové série Red Bull Guanajuato Cerro Abajo v Mexiku, kde získává bronzovou medaily.

Kanonýr prvního fotbalového víkendu v jarní části I. B třídy východ obléká dres harrachovského týmu. Ten jaro hraje na novém hřišti a je vidět, že domácím hodně svědčí. Dohrávku s Držkovem a první mistrák s Jablonečkem vyhráli a připsali si dvakrát tři body.

Velikonoce jsou tady, předpověď počasí vypadá dobře. Nalaďte se na pondělní „hodovačku“ naším víkendovým fotbalovým přehledem. Vyrazíte někam?  

The World Cup action travels this weekend to the north of France for the much awaited debut of Lievin in the World Triathlon circuit, with a fast and furious format that is set to delight athletes and spectators alike. get ready for the first-ever indoor World Cup, and there are some major names ready to go all-out in this brutal format.  Among the stars set to race indoors are Vincent Luis - winner here in 2022 - Georgia Taylor-Brown, Tim Hellwig, Gwen Jorgensen, Csongor Lehmann, Leonie Periault and Vetle Thorn all in the mix! Saturday is going to be jam-packed action, and you can watch the semi-finals and finals live on TriathlonLive.tv:

The format is simple: build a 25m pool inside an indoor track, and have the athletes swimming, biking in the outer lanes of the track and running on the inner lanes. Pack the venue with 2.500 spectators. Add live music, impressive sports presentations and…. voilà! You have all the ingredients for a perfect triathlon spectacle.

12 athletes line up on each race -6 heats for the men, 4 for the women, two repechages each, followed by three semi-finals for each gender and then the B final and A finals-. A 150m swim - 6 lengths of the pool with two athletes to a lane - is followed by a 15-lap, 3km bike and out onto the 5-lap, 1km run, with heats and repechage to decide the 36 athletes into three semi-finals per gender, the top four of each semi-final progressing into the final, the next four on the finish line of each semi-final into a B-final.

On the men’s race, top 4 on each of the six Qualifiers will make it straight to the semi-finals, with the rest going to the repechages. On the women’s race, the top six of each Qualifier will make it to the semi-finals, with the rest battling for the last spots on the two repechages scheduled.

Men’s line-up

It will be Germany’s top ranked athlete, Tim Hellwig, wearing the one in Lievin, and therefore has been placed on the first Qualifier, along with some other fast runners like Spain’s Genis Grau or France’s Paul Georgenthum. Grau is one to keep an eye on on this format. He finished in second place here in 2022, just behind Vincent Luis, and is known for his quick transitions and fast legs, which will definitely be an asset in Lievin.

The second Qualifier might be slightly easier for Csongor Lehmann (HUN), while the third one will see some athletes known to be fast and experienced in this fast and furious races like Sylvain Fridelance (SUI), Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR), and Harry Leleu (GBR), who will be looking forward avoiding the repechages and saving legs for the last stages of the competition.

The fourth Qualifier will be one for the ages, with the likes of Hugo Milner (GBR), Casper Stornes (NOR), Esteban Basanta Fouz (ESP) and Sachar Sagiv (ISR) willing to prove that this format suits them great. After his incredible run last week in Quarteira -29.32, outrunning the likes of Vincent Luis-, Milner is ready to prove that he is not only a fast runner, but also one to be considered when it comes to super-sprint formats, similar distances as on a Mixed Relay.

On Qualifier 5, Samuel Dickinson (GBR) and Yanis Seguin (FRA) will be battling for the direct semi-final spots, with the Brit also wanting to show his skills on this format. But the eyes of the local crowd will be indeed fixed on the last Qualifier, with two-times World Champion Vincent Luis toeing the start line. The Frenchman returned to competition after an injury last weekend in Quarteira, where he proved to be in good form for Olympic distance races, but the Lievin format is one he also likes, having won here in the European Cup in 2022.

Women’s line-up

With only 40 women on the start list, the field has been divided into four Qualifier races, with the top six making it straight to the semi-finals and the rest of the athletes having one more chance on the repechage. USA’s Taylor Spivey was meant to wear the one on Lievin, but she had to pull out of the race due to sickness last minute, leaving Great Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown to lead the field. The Brit will not have an easy first round, with Gina Sereno (USA), the current Arena Games World Champion, and Leonie Periault (FRA) also on the second Qualifier, along with uber swimmer Zsanett Kuttor-Bragmayer (HUN) and Zuzana Michalickova (SVK), one of the Team World Triathlon athletes that is trying to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The first Qualifier will see some of the strongest athletes, with Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) ready to prove how fast her legs are, to continue to chase her Olympic dream. She will face two of the stronger French athletes, Sandra Dodet and Audrey Merle, both of them with previous podiums here in Lievin and also with multiple World Cup podiums on their careers.

Laura Lindemann (GER) will be leading the third qualifier, another race that is stacked, with Rio 2016 champion Gwen Jorgensen giving it a try to the fast and thrilling format, alongside with Rio 2016 bronze medallist Vicky Holland (GBR), also back to competition after having a child. Selina Klamt (GER) and Margaux Garabedian (CAM) should be included on the ones to watch on this race.

The last Qualifier will see three German athletes that have a great experience in the super-sprint format: Marlene Gomez-Goggle, Lena Meißner and Anabel Knoll, alongside with Cathia Schär (SUI) and Jessica Fullagar (GBR).

The Lievin Indoor World Cup will take place on Saturday, March 30, with the first Qualifier starting at 12.30. Semi-finals and finals will be avalable LIVE on TriathlonLIVE.tv from 19h local time. Check all the start lists HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Až z havajského Big Islandu přivezla svůj triumf nejlepší sportovkyně Prahy 14 za loňský rok. Vítězkou čtvrtého ročníku už tradiční ankety téměř šedesátitisícové části metropole se stala Bára Besperát. Na společenském večeru v KD Kyje za ni převzal cenu manžel Tomáš, protože ona už se připravuje na další sezonu na Mallorce, odkud poslala zdravici..

Volejbalisté Malé Skále odehráli poslední dvě kola druhé národní volejbalové ligy mužů letošní sezóny. Soupeřem jim byl celek ze Dvora Králové nad Labem. I když měli Maloskalští jistotu celkového prvního místa i tak o motivaci zakončit takto úspěšnou sezónu výhrami nebyla nouze. V očekávání byla pěkná podívaná, což potvrzovala i hojná účast diváků.

Mistrovské zápasy se rozjely také v I. B třídě východ. A někde už se hrálo konečně na přírodní trávě. Umělky už si týmy, díky dlouhé zimní přípravě, užily až až. Ale i na přírodní trávu bylo potřeba si zase zvyknout.

In the latest edition of the series tracking the journeys of athletes to the Paris Olympic Games, World Triathlon caught up with Nina Eim (GER) as she prepares to make her first Olympic appearance this summer.

Like almost every other elite triathlete, Eim’s attention was firmly on Paris. When we spoke, she was midway through a four week training camp in Namibia with almost the entire German squad. Yet unlike many of her rivals around the world, she finds herself in a unique position.

Germany is currently the only country to have allocated all of its female Olympic slots for triathlon in Paris. With six women currently in the top-30 of the Olympic Qualification rankings, securing a third female slot is a formality. Crucially for Eim, she is already one of the lucky three to have been selected.

She earned her place on the German Olympic team by finishing 6th at the Paris Test Event last season. However, her path onto the team has not always been smooth.

“I twisted my ankle at WTCS Cagliari,” explained Eim, “one day before the race. It happened at the swim familiarization as I practised the beach start.”

With a hurt ankle, Eim was not sure if she would tackle the WTCS race the next day, but elected to do so after being given the green-light by the team doctor.

“I was sure of doing the swim and the bike, and on the run I just wanted to see if I could run or not. During the race, the ankle wasn’t a big problem.”

In the end, Eim finished 9th in Cagliari, one place behind her German teammate, Lisa Tertsch.

After the race, though, an MRI scan revealed a small stress reaction in the bone. A five week break from running was therefore ordered. Yet even after the five weeks had elapsed, Eim could still not run due to lingering pain around the tendon.

“It was not a really good preparation before Paris,” she conceded. “I had pain when running and so didn’t do a lot of it.”

“Paris was actually my longest run! Two days before the race I ran 6km for the first time since Cagliari.”

Once the Test Event started, Eim put any thought of the injury out of mind. “In the race I am much more confident than before it starts.”

Once the swim and bike were safely navigated, all eyes turned to the run. While Laura Lindemann strode ahead as the leading German athlete and was in the fight for the medals (Lindemann ultimately finished 3rd), Eim found herself racing head-to-head with Tertsch once more. Whoever was the second German across the line inside the top-8 would secure the all-important Olympic slot alongside Lindemann.

An almighty battle followed but it was Eim that crossed first.

“I was really surprised that I ran so well,” confessed Eim. Having not run 10km in over two months, she summoned a final surge to pull away from her teammate. Separately, Tertsch went on to claim the third and final German slot at the WTCS Final in Pontevedra.

With Eim’s place on the team settled, she made sure to race through the autumn to lock in her place inside the top-30 of the Olympic Qualification rankings, the secondary requirement of the German Olympic selection policy.

Finishes of 2nd at the Valencia World Cup and 12th at WTCS Pontevedra followed. Then Eim won the Rome World Cup in a dazzling display. Having ensconced herself in the top-30 – Eim is currently ranked 12th – she ended her season early after Rome to prepare for 2024.

Now, her first outing of the Olympic year is around the corner.

Eim was originally slated to race at WTCS Abu Dhabi, however due to a minor muscular problem she opted to sit it out. “We decided we won’t take any risks before Paris.”

In place of Abu Dhabi, Eim will start her season elsewhere.

“I’m thinking of doing the World Cup in Lievin.” The French town will host an indoor World Cup, the first of its kind. As it happens, Eim won the Europe Cup version of the same event in 2022. A repeat victory could be on the cards, then, should she return.

“I would like to do it again,” said Eim. “It’s really special for triathlon.”

In April, another training camp in Mallorca will follow and then she will return to the WTCS, with Cagliari fixed in her diary. This time, though, she might just skip the swim familiarization.
With a knowing laugh, she added, “I will just run into the water on race day and not before!”

From qualification, to preparation and even medal hopes, Eim’s road to the Olympics is starting to take shape. In many respects, 2023 was her best season yet. She finished 9th overall in the WTCS, logged her highest ever WTCS finish with her 6th place in Paris and won a World Cup for the first time.

Throw in her field-leading run split at WTCS Yokohama and it soon becomes clear that the German athlete is a rising force. If all goes to plan, she is primed for an even better year yet on her path to Paris.

Druhý zápas fotbalové reprezentace pod vedením kouče Ivana Haška, druhý obrat. Češi v Praze na Letné proti Arménii brzy ztráceli, těsně před přestávkou ale srovnal hlavou Ladislav Krejčí a ve druhé půli vyšla trenérovi velmi dobře střídání. Debutant Matěj Jurásek svým centrem připravil pozici pro Tomáše Chorého, který dvanáct minut před koncem základní hrací doby stanovil konečné skóre na 2:1.