The entire winter was a disappointment. Persistent back problems turned out to be a herniated disc. The Czech star has now undergone surgery. But recovery will take time, starting with six weeks of rest for the former biathlon World Champion.

Marketa Davidova has faced a challenging winter. The 29-year-old, who became World Champion in the 15km event in Pokljuka in 2021, has struggled to perform due to ongoing back issues.

She attempted to compete at the Olympics in Antholz, but it ended with an 81st place in the sprint event, and a modest 11th place in the mixed relay, where the Czech team had medal hopes.

After the season, she addressed her issues:

“I consulted several doctors about the examination results, and they all agreed that surgery was necessary. During the procedure, they replaced my herniated disc with an implant and reinforced the vertebrae with screws. Now I have six weeks of calm and rest to allow the vertebrae to heal properly. After that, I may be able to start rehabilitation cautiously,” Davidova wrote on social media.

The 29-year-old from Janov nad Nisou is one of the prominent stars in women’s biathlon. She has four World Cup victories, the latest being in the sprint at Kontiolahti in the 2024/2025 season. In total, Davidova has stood on the podium 12 times. She has participated in three Olympics and five World Championships.

However, she now faces a month and a half without training before hopefully being able to start training again gradually. It is a long road back to the elite level.

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