We all know it, and he knows himself that he is capable of troubling the world’s elite. He can wedge himself into the very best results of the Nordic skiers. Everything suggests that he is excellently prepared. What is going through the mind of the Czech Republic’s top skier?

So far, the season has not delivered the results he had imagined. Still, Michal Novák remains calm, focused, and determined. His nomination for the Olympic Games is a huge honor, but at the same time, a clear commitment; he is not going there “to take part.”

He gave everything to the preparation

A sign of his rising form came in mid-December, with 19th place in the World Cup 10km freestyle in Davos. His best result of the season was an excellent 6th place in one of the Tour de Ski stages, where athletes tested a new format for the first time, a 5km race with heats in randomly drawn groups. Other results remained below his expectations.

“Unfortunately, this season I haven’t yet achieved the results I believe I’m capable of,” Novák admits openly, continuing: “There were certain health complications behind it, and we don’t know the exact cause. It’s possible it was a mild concussion,” he says to Bezky.net, without making excuses after an unpleasant crash on skis he suffered at the start of the season.

But one thing he is sure about: he gave everything to his preparation.

“I know that I put everything I could into the preparation, so either it works out, or it doesn’t. If it works out, I’ll be very happy; it’s the Olympics. And I hope I’ll show the absolute maximum I’ll be capable of at that moment.”

It is precisely this honesty and inner calm that characterize Novák’s approach to elite sport. He sees the Olympic Games as an exceptional event that transcends the boundaries of sport.

He values participating in the Games immensely yet openly says that nomination alone is not his goal. “For me, it’s no longer just about taking part; I want to fulfill my potential,” he emphasizes. Motivation also comes from the Olympics themselves, the pinnacle toward which an entire career is directed.

“It may work out, and I’ll be very happy. It’s the Olympics. And I hope I’ll show the very maximum I’ll be capable of at that moment.”

At the first cross-country skiing event at Milano-Cortina 2026, the Czech athlete finished in a respectable 19th place at the 20km skiathlon.

Read More: Klæbo dominates 20km skiathlon at Milano-Cortina 2026

Trust from a teammate

He feels support not only from the fans but also from within his own team. Jiří Tuž speaks very positively about him, highlighting Novák’s ability to time his peak form correctly.

“I think Michal knows very well how to prepare for the peak. Even last year, he wasn’t racing the way he was used to, and in the end, in Trondheim, he was flying like a madman,” Tuž recalls. “I believe he’ll do well here and deliver great results.”

This season, Tuž has beaten Novák in several strong results, but it has not affected their relationship. Both athletes share a similar view of rivalry within the team. They do not focus on internal comparisons within the Czech national team, but on competition at the global level.

“We focus more on ourselves,” Tuž says. “What matters to us is how we compare with the world, not whether I beat a teammate.”

Michal Novák thus enters the Olympic challenge with respect, humility, and a clear goal. Without big words, without external pressure, just with belief in the work he has done, and with the desire to show the very best that will be in him at that moment.

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

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