Former skier and key member of successful Czech relay teams, World U23 Champion, and bronze Olympic medalist from Vancouver 2010, Martin Jakš, celebrates his 40th birthday.

The former representative, who was a mainstay of Czech cross-country skiing for many years, has traded elite training and hundreds of hours of practice for family life and managing a hotel in Horská Kvilda in Šumava.

Martin Jakš, born in Plzeň (September 6, 1986), began his skiing career in 1997 with the TJ Tatran Železná Ruda club. Later, in 2006, he moved to Dukla Liberec. Throughout his illustrious career, he participated in three Olympic Games, four senior World Championships, and numerous junior championships.

Among his greatest sporting achievements are the bronze medal in the relay at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the U23 World Championship titles from 2008 (in the 15 km classic), and the historic first victory for the Czech men’s relay in a World Cup race in Davos, Switzerland (2007). He also performed excellently in the Tour de Ski, competing six times and finishing in the top ten overall three times.

Memories of Vancouver and the Tour de Ski

Reflecting on his successful career, the jubilant athlete first recalls the Olympic medal from Vancouver and his junior or youth successes, where he competed against stars like Petter Northug and Dario Cologna.

“The memories of that memorable day in Vancouver are slowly fading; it’s been a long time. What sticks in my mind is the moment I started the race on the first leg. When I went out to cool down after my performance, I realized for the first time that Lukáš Bauer had made it to the front positions and that he and Jiří Magál were up front with three others,” Jakš recalls of the legendary race for the Czech Ski Association website.

Jakš was also known for his excellent feel for stage races. The Tour de Ski suited him as a versatile athlete—he was able to advance from challenging sprints and maintain consistent performance. The challenge of the Tour was particularly the cumulative strain day after day. “In our days, the Tour was even longer than it is now. We raced from Cortina to Toblach on a 35-kilometer course, finishing uphill in intervals. Whoever crossed the finish line first was the overall winner,” he describes with hindsight.

Running on the edge of limits and battling illnesses

The elite training of the representative typically involved over 800 training hours annually, consisting of skiing, roller skiing, running, gym workouts, and supplementary sports. During his training blocks, he followed both the traditional model under long-time coach Miroslav Petrásek and, towards the end of his career, the Scandinavian model focused on higher training volume at low intensity under Finnish coach Ilkka Jarva.

However, the high training load also had a downside—susceptibility to illnesses and weakened immunity just before the peaks of the season. “I would always start to feel a sore throat, and it would develop into an illness. It was mentally draining because you trained and prepared for the peak, and then got sick before an important event. But my desire to keep going helped me. I took it as part of the sport,” he reflects on those challenging moments.

Life in Šumava and being a father of four

After the 2018 Winter Olympics, Martin Jakš decided to definitively close the chapter on his professional career. The main reason was his family situation and the fact that, as a father, he did not want to spend more than half a year away from home.

Following the end of his career, a significant change occurred in his life. He moved to Šumava to Horská Kvilda, where he has successfully operated a family hotel for the past eight years. He is a full-time dad—raising four children with his wife. His older daughters (aged 14 and 12) are following in his footsteps and are engaged in cross-country skiing.

However, Martin Jakš has not turned his back on sports. After ending his professional career, he participated in several Ski Classics races under the Czech team eD system RSJ, where, although he was not among the top competitors, he managed to fight for a spot in the top 50 despite his work and family commitments. Last season, he did not miss the Jizerská 50, finishing in 50th place.

Even today, he enjoys heading out on skis, engaging in various outdoor activities, and actively cheering for the current young generation of Czech representatives on television during the winter season.

And what would he advise his younger self at the very beginning of his career, knowing what he knows now? “To simply enjoy the sport while it lasts, while he is young and has the strength—and to give it everything he has.”

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

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site and live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentary.

When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round. 

REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER