He doesn’t talk about results, but about performance. He doesn’t measure success by placings, but by satisfaction with himself. The 21-year-old Czech skier thinks like a mature champion. Today’s sprint could be his strongest discipline at the entire Olympic Games.

Czech sprinter Jiří Tuž is heading into his first Olympic Games in very solid form and with a clear approach – not to give in to outside pressure and to deliver a performance he himself can be satisfied with above all else.

A planned high-altitude training camp in Livigno with Michal Novák and Mikey Ophoff became seriously complicated for Tuž.

“After three days, I caught some kind of stomach virus, and on the fifth day I was already heading home,” he explains, according to Bezky.net. His stay in Italy had to be cut short, and the entire preparation had to be significantly altered. “That preparation was basically completely useless,” he admits bluntly.

After that, he trained individually at home and later in Oberhof, where training conditions were very good. Despite the health issues, he believes he prepared sufficiently. “It wasn’t ideal before the Olympics, but I think I still managed to prepare well. Hopefully, the illness didn’t completely mess things up. So far, I feel good.”

Only three athletes went to Livigno – Tuž, Novák, and Ophoff – for purely practical reasons. “The rest of the team needed to race, and it didn’t fit into their plans. High-altitude training is also very specific and doesn’t suit everyone,” he explains.

Also Read – Milano-Cortina 2026: Results for the men’s sprint qualifier

Developing the Strategy

Jiří Tuž’s strength lies in sprinting, where speed is crucial, but technique, tactics, and the ability to react within the pack are just as important. These details have been the main focus of his late-stage preparation, alongside coach Ragnar Bragvin Andresen.

“Strategy and technique are super important in sprinting, and we work on them every day. Now it’s already very specific with the race approaching,” Tuž says.

Also Read – Jiří Tuž: A rising star with ambitious goals

Alongside positioning and tactics in the pack, the team is also fine-tuning service details. “Together with the service team, we’re working on how to wax the classic skis, experimenting with shortening the grip zone, and it looks like it’s working. We’ll see whether we use it in the race,” he adds. According to Tuž, conditions in Val di Fiemme are tricky and different from the hard tracks they are used to, placing even greater demands on adaptation.

Every sprint has its own tactical approach, but it must be adjusted flexibly during the race. “Decisions on the course have to be incredibly fast. It’s more instinct than thinking,” he explains. He sees the Olympic classic sprint as a race decided primarily by the long, demanding climb. “It won’t be about the first 500 meters, but mainly about that final hill. That’s where you’ll see who’s strongest on the day.”

First Olympics

For the Liberec-based athlete, this will be his Olympic debut. Even so, he approaches it with calm confidence. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s my first Olympics, but I take it like any other race. There are just more media duties,” he says. He is aware of the increased pressure but believes he can filter it out. “I’ll focus only on my performance. I won’t let it throw me off.”

He describes the Val di Fiemme courses as tough but fair. “Long climbs, demanding downhills – it matches the fact that this is an Olympic course. It’s wide, nice, fair,” he evaluates. Whether they suit him will only be shown in the race itself.

He doesn’t want to fixate on a specific result. “I’m not the type who focuses on placements. The goal is to deliver the best possible performance. If I make it through the sprint heats, I’ll be satisfied. A semifinal or final would be great, but the main thing is that I’m happy with my performance,” he concludes.

Jiří Tuž thus heads into his first Olympic experience with humility, calm, and a clear philosophy – without big expectations, but with maximum commitment.

About Jiří Tuž

The 21-year-old athlete was born on November 23, 2004, in Frýdlant. He was introduced to sport by his father, who was active in various disciplines such as swimming, triathlon, running, and skiing. Jiří enjoyed sports and showed talent from an early age. At 13, he decided to focus solely on cross-country skiing and leave other sports behind.

He began his skiing career at Ski Club Jablonec nad Nisou and has competed for TJ Dukla Liberec since 2021 under coach Zbyněk Valoušek. Since last year, he has been training under Czech national team head coach Jan Franc, a cooperation he values highly.

In March 2022, he won a silver medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Vuokatti, Finland, in the 7.5km classic race.

He has competed at the Junior World Championships three times – in Lyngen (Norway), Whistler (Canada), and Planica (Slovenia). Last year, in Schilpario, Italy, he made his U23 debut. Last year, he finished seventh in the sprint in Planica, and this year he secured fourth place in the older category – once again in the sprint.

Last year, he achieved his best World Cup result by finishing fifth in the classic sprint in Falun, Sweden. It was also his first year competing at the U23 World Championships, where he claimed an excellent fourth place in the classic sprint. At the World Championships in Trondheim, he finished 29th in the freestyle sprint and seventh in the team sprint together with Michal Novák.

This season, he has regularly advanced from sprint heats into the quarterfinals and once even reached the semifinals. In addition, he recorded a personal best in the 10km classic distance.

Also Read: Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

FACTS 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games – Cross-Country Skiing

• When: Saturday 7, to Sunday, February 22, 2026
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Val di Fiemme, Italy
• What: Milano-Cortina 2026

Saturday, February 7: 20km Skiathlon C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Women

Sunday, February 8: 20km Skiathlon C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Men

Tuesday, February 10: Sprint C Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:15 CET: Sprint Quali C, Women
• 9:55 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 11:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Thursday, February 12: 10km Interval Start F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval F, Women

Friday, February 13: 10km Interval Start F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval F, Men

Saturday, February 14: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Women

Sunday, February 15: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Team Sprint Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Women
• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

Saturday, February 21: 50km Mass Start C Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Men

Sunday, February 22: 50km Mass Start C Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Val di Fiemme, a classic Nordic skiing venue, promises thrilling racing on courses steeped in Olympic history. Fans around the World will have the chance to cheer on athletes across all distances, from explosive sprints to grueling marathons.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.