The most experienced Czech biathlete is preparing for another season, this time with a significant goal – the Olympics. In this interview, you can read about her summer training and her plans.

Last season, Lucie Charvátová celebrated her 200th World Cup start in biathlon. She is one of the most experienced athletes on the Czech team and has yet to find a successor. Even this year, however, she must meet the selection criteria, as her Olympic start is still far from guaranteed.

Charvátová, who comes from Jilemnice, is often criticized for inaccurate shooting, especially in relay races. According to Bezky.net, she initially started as “just” a cross-country skier and only switched to biathlon later, as a junior.

In the World Cup, she ranks among the women with powerful skiing times, but her shooting statistics are weaker. Despite this, she has earned several top 10 finishes, the most valuable being her bronze medal in the sprint at the 2020 World Championships in Antholz. And that is precisely where she would love to return this year, as the world’s best biathletes will once again compete for the most prestigious medals – the Olympic ones – in February.

Lucie, there are just a few days left until the World Cup begins, and this could be your last Olympics. Are you nervous?

“I’m not nervous. It’s the usual cycle of the year that I’ve been used to for several seasons. The entire summer preparation went by day after day without major problems. Physically, I think I should be in good shape. My issue right now is the transition to snow – I’m not fully used to skiing yet and feel a bit unstable. This season starts in Östersund, which is probably my favorite Scandinavian venue. The Olympics are, of course, the long-awaited highlight of the season, and I would hate to experience the disappointment of 2018 again, when I failed to qualify.”

Do you have a guaranteed spot for the Olympics?

“Definitely not, and I’m not even fully aware of all the selection criteria.”

Do you have any ideas on how you can qualify?

“Based on my experience, I assume the selection will be made according to current performance and perhaps with consideration for any strong World Cup results. The nomination closes after the World Cup in Ruhpolding, so the races in Oberhof and Ruhpolding will likely be crucial.”

Many athletes trained at higher altitudes this summer to prepare for high-altitude Antholz. What did your summer training look like?

“Yes, the Czech biathlon team also took this approach. The training camp structure was very interesting and worked well for me. During preparation, we had four training blocks, each three weeks long, and each week we moved from high to medium altitude. For example, we combined Livigno with Lenzerheide or Passo Lavazé with Obertilliach. Three weeks at a camp is long, but this concept made the sessions easier, and the change in scenery was mentally refreshing. And three weeks allow you to build a high-quality training plan – from endurance to intensity sessions at the end of the camp – without sacrificing rest days.”

Will you race the whole World Cup program, or focus more on final preparation before the Olympics?

“This decision isn’t up to me. But I would choose the full program, because putting all your eggs in one basket is risky, especially for me. Since I’m not a consistent performer, I trust more in a few excellent races than in maintaining a steady average. In biathlon, there have never been many athletes who purposely skipped World Cup races to prepare for the season’s highlight.”

Do you like Antholz?

“I really like Antholz, especially because of the 2020 World Championships, where I won the bronze medal in the sprint.”

Does the higher altitude there suit you?

“Higher altitude generally doesn’t suit me because I struggle to oxygenate my muscles well, but Antholz is an exception. The course profile is gentler, which suits me. The climbs aren’t too steep, and I can recover a bit on every descent. The difficult part is the approach to the shooting range, where the heavier breathing can show during shooting.”

Read More: Five rising Czech biathlon stars to watch this season

What else do you like about it?

“I also like the snow conditions – the temperature is usually below freezing, the skis glide well on the frozen snow, and the bright Alpine sun allows you to enjoy the snowy peaks even during a race. Statistically, I perform better in Antholz, both on skis and on the shooting range. Together with Hochfilzen, it’s my favorite World Cup location. We come here regularly in the summer for training camps, so I know the stadium and surroundings very well. For example, I’ve skied the “Enter the Arena” segment 829 times – unofficially, probably around 1000.”

You’re the most experienced athlete in the Czech team and at a different life stage than the younger girls. Which Czech biathlete are you closest to, and why?

“For the past four years, I’ve been sharing a room with Terka Voborníková. We get along very well, our daily routines match, and we often agree on training and recovery approaches. We also live just 300 meters apart in Vrchlabí, so Terka is truly the closest to me. She studied nutrition and sport recovery, so she often takes care of my well-being and introduces me to new things, which keeps me “forever young,” she laughs.

“Overall, our women’s group works very well. We always manage to communicate and find solutions together. We’ve been in this lineup for several years, so we understand each other’s moods and know how to read when someone is having a good or bad day.”

FACTS Östersund Cup Season 2025/2026 (more information can be found HERE)

• When: Saturday, November 29 to Sunday, December 7 
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Östersund, Sweden
• What: IBU World Cup in Östersund, Sweden

PROGRAM

• Saturday, November 29, 13:15 CET: Women 4x6km Relay
• Saturday, November 29, 16:55 CET: Men 4×7.5km Relay
• Sunday, November 30, 14:00 CET: Single Mixed Relay (W+M)
• Sunday, November 30, 16:40 CET: Mixed Relay (M+W)
• Tuesday, December 2, 15:30 CET: Women 15km Individual
• Wednesday, December 3, 15:30 CET: Men 20km Individual
• Friday, December 5, 16:00 CET: Women 7.5km Sprint
• Saturday, December 6, 16:30 CET: Men 10km Sprint
• Sunday, December 7, 13:15 CET: Women 10km Pursuit
• Sunday, December 7, 15:15 CET: Men 12.5km Pursuit

Also Read – Biathlon World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

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