Kateřina Neumannová () (born 15 February 1973) is a Czech retired cross-country skier. She won an Olympic gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics, in the 30 km freestyle event. She is one of five cross country skiers to have competed at six Olympics.
She was also the first Czech woman to appear in both a Summer and Winter Olympics, having participated in the mountain biking event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Neumannová retired after the 2006-07 World Cup season.FIS Newsflash 122. 11 April 2007.
Career overview She was a flatwater canoeist and downhill skier before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen. Neumannová made her first appearance in the Winter Olympics in 1992 in Albertville. Her goal was only to gain experience.Profile on Czech Olympic Committee's webpage , accessed 22 August 2006 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 a mountain bike and when the sport become popular she decided to begin racing. In 1995, she won a bronze medal at the European Championships,"Neumannová neví, zda bude jezdit", MF Dnes, 10 April 1996 page 23 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,"Original (Czech): "Tentokrát jsem příjemné období vynechala a šla jsem na to rovnou zostra. Díky tomu jsem při atletických testech zaběhla časy, jakých jsem naposledy dosáhla v juniorkách" she said before the Olympics. But her preparations were not in the best conditions. She practised in cold weather in Šumava while great heat was expected for the Atlanta race."Neumannová se na vedro málem chystala ve sněhu", MF Dnes, 18 July 1996, page 18, available through (registration required) On 31 July 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, Georgia, United States. She fell off 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.Original (Czech): "Dojela jsem asi patnáct závodnic, ale pak na mě padla hrozná krize. Už jsem nezávodila, jen jsem se snažila dojet." 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.Original (Czech): "Kdyby trať byla tvrdší, věřím, že bych stála na stupni vítězů"(25 November 1996). Neumannová doběhla čtvrtá i na měkkém sněhu. MF DNES p. 13 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.(30 December 1996). "Neumannová běhala v krutém mrazu suverénně". MFDNES, p. 02
Only two weeks later, on 11 and 12 January, 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(13 January 1997). "Neumannová zazářila v Japonsku". MF DNES p. 01(13 January 1997). "Neumannová doběhla v Hakubě dvakrát druhá". MF DNES p. 02
On 17 February 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 27 February 2007.
On 24 February 2006, in her 20th and final Olympic race, Neumannová won her sixth Olympic medal, but 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.
2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships In late 2006, Neumannová was named an honorary vice president of the organizing committee for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, the Czech Republic. On 25 July 2007, she succeeded Roman Kumpost as chair of the organizing committee for the 2009 championships.FIS NewsFlash 138. 1 August 2007.
Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Olympic Games 6 medals – (1 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze) Year Age 5 km 10 km 15 km Pursuit 30 km Sprint 4 × 5 km relay Team sprint 1992 19 13 14 22 — 6 1994 21 8 14 6 — 9 1998 25 Silver 9 Bronze — 6 2002 29 — Silver Silver — 13 4 2006 33 5 Silver Gold — 6 —
World Championships 5 medals – (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) Year Age 5 km 10 km 15 km Pursuit 30 km Sprint 4 × 5 km relay Team sprint 1991 18 15 — 28 — 8 1993 20 8 16 5 — 5 1995 22 11 7 13 DNF 8 1997 24 6 Bronze 4 — 5 1999 26 Bronze — 7 2001 28 — 9 — — 2005 32 Gold7 7 — 6 — 2007 34 Gold Silver — — 5 —
a. Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.
World Cup Season standings Season Age Discipline standingsSki Tour standingsOverallDistanceLong DistanceMiddle DistanceSprintTour deSki 1991 18 46 1992 19 19 1993 20 7 1994 21 12 1995 22 14 1996 23 8 1997 24 8 1998 25 15 46 9 1999 26 6 18 2000 27 17 20 18 17 2001 28 9 12 2002 29 2004 31 9 8 21 2005 32 41 2006 33 5 — 2007 34 24 5
Individual podiums 19 victories – (18 , 1 ) 49 podiums – (48 , 1 ) No. Season Date Location Race Level Place1 1992–9312 December 1992 Ramsau, Austria 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st2 1995–96 9 December 1995 Davos, Switzerland 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd3 4 February 1996 Reit im Winkl, Germany 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd4 1996–97 11 January 1997 Hakuba, Japan 5 km Individual C World Cup 2nd5 12 January 1997 10 km Pursuit F World Cup 2nd6 21 February 1997 Trondheim, Norway 15 km Individual F World Championships 3rd7 8 March 1997 Falun, Sweden 5 km Individual F World Cup 3rd8 1997–98 22 November 1997 Beitostølen, Norway 5 km Individual C World Cup 3rd9 8 January 1998 Ramsau, Austria 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd10 9 January 1998 5 km Individual C World Cup 3rd11 1998–9928 November 1998 Muonio, Finland 5 km Individual F World Cup 1st12 12 December 1998 Toblach, Italy 5 km Individual FWorld Cup 1st13 9 January 1999 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd14 22 February 1999 Ramsau, Austria 5 km Individual C World Championships 3rd15 9 January 1999 Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd16 1999–00 28 December 1999 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd17 2000–01 17 December 2000 Brusson, Italy 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd18 10 January 2001 Soldier Hollow, United States 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st19 2001–0225 November 2001 Kuopio, Finland 5 km Individual F World Cup 1st20 9 December 2001 Cogne, Italy1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st21 29 December 2001 Salzburg, Austria 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd22 5 January 2002 Val di Fiemme, Italy 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 3rd23 6 January 2002 1.5 km Sprint FWorld Cup 1st24 12 January 2002 Nové Město, Czech Republic 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd25 2003–0420 December 2003 Ramsau, Austria 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st26 6 January 2004 Falun, Sweden7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/FWorld Cup 1st27 17 January 2004 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd28 6 February 2004 La Clusaz, France 10 km Individual FWorld Cup 1st29 21 February 2004 Umeå, Sweden 10 km Individual CWorld Cup 1st30 13 March 2004 Pragelato, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd31 2004–0526 November 2004 Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st3228 November 2004 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd33 8 January 2005 Otepää, Estonia 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd34 15 January 2005 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual FWorld Cup 1st35 22 January 2005 Pragelato, Italy 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd36 6 March 2005 Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd37 12 March 2005 Oslo, Norway 30 km Individual C World Cup 2nd38 19 March 2005 Falun, Sweden 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd39 2005–0627 November 2005 Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st40 31 December 2005 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual FWorld Cup 1st41 14 January 2006 Lago di Tesero, Italy 15 km Mass Start FWorld Cup 1st42 21 January 2006 Oberstdorf, Germany 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 3rd43 8 March 2006 Falun, Sweden 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd44 11 March 2006 Oslo, Norway 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd45 2006–0718 November 2006 Gällivare, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st46 7 January 2007 Cavalese, Italy 10 km Individual FStage World Cup 1st47 20 January 2007 Rybinsk, Russia 15 km Mass Start F World Cup 2nd48 16 February 2007 Changchun, China 10 km Individual FWorld Cup 1st49 24 March 2007 Falun, Sweden 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd
Team podiums
1 victory – (1 ) 2 podiums – (1 , 1 )
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammate(s)1 1998–998 March 1999 Vantaa, Finland Team Sprint F World Cup 1st Hanušová2 2006–07 17 December 2006 La Clusaz, France 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Erbenová / Rajdlová / Janečková
Note: Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.
Personal life On 2 July 2003, Neumannová gave birth to a daughter, Lucie Neumannová.
See also List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
References
External links
Kateřina Neumannová at Czech.cz