Rome (from our correspondent) – However, at the third attempt ten centimeters higher, her numerous fan club was already raising their hands above their heads, even coach Štěpán Janáček was starting to rejoice, after all Švábíková was already behind the bar. “I remember being behind her and holding her there. At that moment, I almost punched her in the chest and couldn’t stand it,” she regretted.
A successful jump would not have solved anything from the point of view of the medals, the top three also overcame other heights, but the impression of the finals would have been improved by the Švábík team. “Fourth place for 468 would be sweeter,” she knew.
Between attempts, she often directed her eyes to a group of her loved ones in the stands, they did not miss or overhear. “I actually had my whole family there, including my grandmother and grandfather, and I’m very happy for that,” she admitted.
Even her friend Ondřej Kopecký could not be absent, even though before his injury he imagined that he would be competing on the field with other decathletes at the same time.
“We’re both top athletes and we know how it hurts when you can’t race here. I appreciate all the more that he came to support me. I’m a family type, in addition, Ondra and her sister came to the undercover, which I didn’t know before. We are both emotional and we like to experience it together,” she appreciated the surprise on the stand. At least part of the family will not be missing even in the stands of the Stade de France during the Olympic Games, towards which the former junior world champion will now be preparing.
