Endurance and toughness are in her nature. She excels in several sports, including long-distance skiing in Ski Classics. She has climbed two 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen — and the extremes don’t end there.

Karolína Grohová (35) began with gymnastics and athletics before adding cross-country skiing. She became part of the Czech national team, where she was a strong sprinter and took part in three World Championships. She also competed at two Winter Olympic Games — Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.

A love for winter sports

Besides cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering is her greatest passion. In this discipline, she is one of the most successful Czech women in history, and after ending her career in the Czech national cross-country team, she also worked as a coach. She is a multiple Czech national champion and, as a junior, won bronze in the 2010 World Championships (Vertical Race).

And that’s not all — she also loves climbing and mountaineering. It runs in the family: her brother Radoslav Groh is an elite Czech climber with several world-class first ascents, including one awarded Climb of the Year 2021. Karolína is not far behind. In 2021, she summited one of the Himalayan 8,000ers — Gasherbrum II — becoming the first Czech woman in nine years to cross the 8,000-meter mark without oxygen.

In 2024, she added Gasherbrum I. Together with Lenka Erlebachová, they became the first Czech women ever to reach the summit of this mountain — again without oxygen and without the help of a single Sherpa.

Long-distance skiing career

For nearly seven years, she has also been one of the most successful Czech long-distance skiers in Ski Classics. Her best result is 8th place at the home race, Jizerská50, and she often finishes around 15th place.

She doesn’t race long-distance professionally. Since she began competing in Ski Classics, she has been working as a primary school teacher in Špindlerův Mlýn, where she teaches 5th grade. How does she balance work and training?

“It’s a merry-go-round. The advantage is that my school sits at the foot of Kozí hřbety, almost in the heart of the Krkonoše. So, it’s the perfect starting point for mountain runs, roller ski training up to Špindlerovka. In winter, I usually train at Mísečky or go ski mountaineering — the terrain behind the school is almost endless,” the eD system RSJ Team explains.

Karolína, how are you looking forward to the new Ski Classics season?

“I’m incredibly excited — finally it starts again. I’ve agreed with our team director, Marek Pazderský, that I will race all Ski Classics events up until Vasaloppet, and then there is the big challenge: the 220km Nordenskiöldsloppet.”

How did you prepare during the summer?

“My summer training was mixed with adventures in the mountains and on the rocks. I mainly raced in running — that’s what I enjoy most. But I managed the criterium in Lázně Bělohrad, the traditional rolle ski climb to Friesovy boudy, and the Hamr na Jezeře events.”

Was there anything that limited your summer preparation?

“I started distance studies to expand my teaching qualifications. I couldn’t take part in the Lipnolopet races — which I was sad about — but this time, school came first. The school won’t let me go to any training camps, so I always wait until there’s snow in the Krkonoše or Jizera mountains.”

With the Olympics coming up, is there any chance of competing in ski mountaineering?

“I spent several years helping lead the national ski mountaineering team, but I don’t have time for that anymore. Now I only function there as a recreational ‘official’ who occasionally likes to race. I absolutely don’t have world-class performance. But we do have young, promising athletes in the Czech Republic.”

You also love climbing and mountaineering. Has cross-country ski training helped you in the mountains — and vice versa?

“Definitely. I think my strengths are toughness and endurance. Those are essential qualities for high-altitude climbing — and for long-distance skiing.”

Do you plan to attempt more Himalayan peaks?

“The high mountains still attract me enormously. I’m trying to convince my amazing climbing partner, Lenka Erlebachová, to join another Himalayan adventure, but she’s being hard to persuade. We’ll see. I have to choose areas where climbing is possible in July or August when I’m off from school. My dream is Nepal, but for now it’s inaccessible because summer is the off-season due to monsoons.”

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