The closed season is over, and many nations are about to start preparing for the 2023/24 Biathlon World Cup season. The teams starting soon include the Czech selection, which presented its official senior squad on Tuesday.
No big surprises, but two new faces: As the Czech Biathlon Association announced on Tuesday, Jonáš Mareček (22) and Jessica Jislová (28) will be permanent members of the A-Team from the 2023/24 season. Both started regularly in the World Cup last season and are now being promoted at the request of the coach.
The women’s team is completed by Markéta Davidová and Tereza Voborníková, the men’s by Michal Krčmář, Tomáš Mikyska, Jakub Štvrtecký and Adam Václavík.
Significantly bigger changes were made on the coaching bench of the Czechs. The Slovakian Martin Bajčičák was hired as the new running coach for the women’s team. In return, the previous women’s assistant coach Jiří Holubec will become the new boss of the B team. Aleš Ligaun, meanwhile, will oversee the men’s reserve team.
The biathletes also have to adapt to changes with regard to the preparation.
This year it will take place in Sjusjøen, Norway. There, the women’s and men’s teams will train together for the first time for the upcoming season. A small group is already on site and has started training.
“Men and women will have joint training sessions. Of course, both teams will keep their own coaches, but we would like to work more closely together,” said Czech sports director Ondřej Rybář, explaining the new training plan, which is intended to put the individual athletes and thus the team on the road to success.