Completed: 12 September 2021
The biggest challenge: to win the world title
The catchphrase: “I don’t know pain – I don’t know pain.”
The Czech Republic can finally boast a new paratriathlon world champion! Together with tracker Marek Peterka, I won my first long-distance championship title in Almere-Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Challenge Series World Championships were held. In total, we had to complete 3.8 km of swimming, 180 km in the cycling part, and a 42 km long run at the end. We did it all in a time of 10 hours 51 minutes 45 seconds.
“Ondra, let’s do it,” Marek, the tracker, encouraged me as we stood at the start of the swim and gestured me with his hand to give me directions. We wished each other good luck and waited for the siren to sound. Right at the start of the race, we took the lead and battled not only our opponents but also the big waves in the man-made lake Werrwater. It was all the more difficult for the tracker to accurately guide me around the buoys that I sometimes managed to hit.
The next, cycling part, was along the seashore, where there was a strong headwind, but even in the adverse wind conditions we still held on to the first place.
“Ondra, we need to push a little harder to make it under five hours,” Marek announced from the front as we slowly finished the second lap. We managed to keep the limit and after putting down the tandem bike we still had a run to do.
The run course went through the city and had six laps, with the fans cheering us on around the course creating a truly memorable atmosphere. We gradually built up a one-hour lead over our nearest rivals, which we maintained until the home straight and took the world championship title.
Many thanks to my tracker Marek for getting us to the finish and the title. Thanks also to our mechanic and escort Lukáš Turek. And I must not forget my mom and my girlfriend who prepared the best food for us along the road.
