The enduring brilliance and success of Barbora Spotakova has been rewarded once more with her being named as the Czech Athlete of the Year for a record eighth time.
Spotakova, 35, made the Olympic podium for the third Games in a row with bronze in Rio with a throw of 64.80m, and with it another place in the history of Czech athletics.
Winning this title again means she passes shot-putter Helena Fibingerova and fellow javelin legend Jan Zelezny, and her former coach, who topped the poll on seven occasions.
“It is hard to believe that this is the eighth time,” said Spotakova, who received the award at the gala in Prague on Saturday night.
“I am glad that people recognise that I have won a medal at the Olympics.
“I much appreciate this success, because the competition was really strong. It’s also a certain motivation that my throwing still has meaning. This award is a great ending (to a) challenging season.”
Spotakova, whose world record of 72.28m is now more than eight years old, scored 1685 points in the poll as she beat pole vaulter Jan Kudlicka (1433), who won European silver in Amsterdam and was fourth in Rio, and Pavel Maslak (1222), who retained his world indoor 400m crown in Portland.
High jumper Michaela Hruba, 18, was named as the Junior of the Year after a brilliant summer where she made the final of the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam and then later in July won gold at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz.
