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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Classification
S8, SB7, SM8
Further personal information
Residence
Czech Republic
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
Czech, English, Russian
Higher education
Occupational Therapy - University of West Bohemia: Plzen, CZE
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began swimming at age two in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. She started competing at age 10.
Why this sport?
She took up the sport as part of her physical therapy.
Club / Team
SK Kontakt Karlovy Vary: Czech Republic
Name of coach
Stepanka Rehorkova [club]; Jan Simek [national]
Training Regime
She trains in the pool seven times a week, and has sessions at the gym three times a week. She also incorporates skiing and handcycling into her training schedule.
International debut
Year
2015
Competing for
Czech Republic
Tournament
World Championships
Location
Glasgow, SCO
General interest
Nicknames
Vendy (rozhlas.cz, 22 Nov 2015; Facebook profile, 16 Dec 2020)
Hobbies
Sport, spending time with her dog. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning silver in the SB7 100m breaststroke at the 2018 European Championships in Dublin, Ireland. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)
Most influential person in career
Her mother. (muzes.cz, 01 Nov 2018)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"I don't go to races because I want to win. I want to enjoy it and have fun with people I don't see otherwise. And if I get a good result, it's just the icing on the cake for me." (blesk.cz, 28 Feb 2019)
Awards and honours
In 2020 she was named Female Junior Para Athlete of the Year by the Czech Paralympic Committee. (ceskenoviny.cz, 29 Jul 2020)
She received an award for recording one of the 10 most impressive performances of 2018 from the Czech Association of Impaired Athletes [CSTPS]. (blesk.cz, 28 Feb 2019)
She was named the 2018 Junior Swimmer of the Year by CSTPS. (tyden.cz, 28 Feb 2019)
She was named the 2016 Female Athlete of the Year in the region of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. (novinky.cz, 11 May 2017)
She received an award for recording one of the 10 most impressive performances of 2018 from the Czech Association of Impaired Athletes [CSTPS]. (blesk.cz, 28 Feb 2019)
She was named the 2018 Junior Swimmer of the Year by CSTPS. (tyden.cz, 28 Feb 2019)
She was named the 2016 Female Athlete of the Year in the region of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. (novinky.cz, 11 May 2017)
Ambitions
To qualify for a final at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (plzen.rozhlas.cz, 14 Mar 2019; Facebook page, 23 Dec 2020; Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)
Impairment
At age seven months she was diagnosed with a spinal tumour, which resulted in damage to the nerves in her legs. (Athlete, 13 Aug 2018; rozhlas.cz, 22 Nov 2015)
Other information
COVID-19 IMPACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 she swam in a pond while pools were closed in the Czech Republic. "I've got an old wetsuit and went swimming in the pond. I mean, only when it's nice. But I don't think it's entirely considered training. It's more for maintaining at least some feeling for the water. Swimming in a wetsuit and on the open water is something completely different than in the pool but I enjoy it very much. I used to go out for swims in the pond before, but it wasn't for long as I wasn't wearing a wetsuit. People look at me strangely, but I'm kind of used to that." (paralympic.cz, 06 May 2020)
COACHING
She has taught children how to swim. "I've already tried it in a large group and when you see what they can do in the water, how they change and the skills they gain, you sometimes feel like you are witnessing a miracle." (muzes.cz, 01 Nov 2018)
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 she swam in a pond while pools were closed in the Czech Republic. "I've got an old wetsuit and went swimming in the pond. I mean, only when it's nice. But I don't think it's entirely considered training. It's more for maintaining at least some feeling for the water. Swimming in a wetsuit and on the open water is something completely different than in the pool but I enjoy it very much. I used to go out for swims in the pond before, but it wasn't for long as I wasn't wearing a wetsuit. People look at me strangely, but I'm kind of used to that." (paralympic.cz, 06 May 2020)
COACHING
She has taught children how to swim. "I've already tried it in a large group and when you see what they can do in the water, how they change and the skills they gain, you sometimes feel like you are witnessing a miracle." (muzes.cz, 01 Nov 2018)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB7 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-14 | 6 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB7 | Final 1 | 2015-07-14 | 7 | |
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM8 | Final 1 | 2015-07-15 | 8 | |
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM8 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-15 | 8 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 2 | 2015-07-16 | 10 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-17 | 8 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2015-07-17 | 8 | |
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S8 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-18 | 10 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 2 | 2015-07-19 | 14 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-08 | 4 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Final Round | 2016-09-08 | 8 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB7 | Final Round | 2016-09-10 | 8 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB7 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-10 | 4 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-11 | 6 | |
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S8 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-13 | 6 | |
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM8 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-17 | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2017-12-03 | 5 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB7 | Final 1 | 2017-12-03 | 3 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2017-12-06 | 3 | |
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM8 | Final 1 | 2017-12-07 | 4 |