The Blink Festival brought Kateřina Janatová impressive results. In this interview, she discusses her disappointment over a narrow photo finish, mental fatigue, respect for her competitors, and why she prefers to avoid unnecessary risks in the summer.

Kateřina Janatová achieved excellent results at the Blink Festival in Norway, showcasing her versatility as an athlete. She finished 9th in the challenging roller ski climb, 4th in the 10km freestyle, and 6th in the sprint. At first glance, these results promise a strong winter season ahead. However, the athlete is slightly critical of herself.

Disappointment over a “potato medal”

The environment in Norway is familiar territory for the Czech representative, as the summer festival offers a great atmosphere and a traditional boat ride to the start of the climb for Lysebotn Opp. However, Kateřina does not accept her results with carefree joy. Having stood on the podium in previous years, she has set her standards high.

“We had exactly the same time for third and fourth place, and it came down to a photo finish. It was just a tiny bit, but it still disappoints me. I feel like I was too hard on myself and wanted it to be just a little bit better,” admits the best Czech cross-country skier to Bezky.net.

She adds that she needs to achieve a solid result to boost her confidence for upcoming races: “I believe I have respect from the other competitors. I need a good race to feel more confident and to have a better springboard for future starts.”

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The festival’s charm

The Blink Festival in Norway is a familiar setting for the Czech representative, where the world’s elite in roller skiing meet annually. She knows the program and the courses by heart, and few details can catch her off guard. Nevertheless, this event has its unique moments that she always looks forward to.

“Blink has become a routine for me. I know everything there, and it all feels quite the same; nothing really surprises me,” Janatová describes. “What remains interesting and beautiful is the boat ride to the start of the Lysebotn Opp climb and the environment in which we compete. That truly has its charm, and I always look forward to it.”

Details matter at the top level

She arrived at the festival almost without rest, coming directly from a high-altitude training camp. “The second day after arriving from altitude, I was racing. I felt a bit of mental fatigue from the long travel. Still, the results are a good sign that the training is working.”

However, she notes that progressing at the absolute top level is becoming increasingly challenging. While she used to see significant progress each year, now it’s the small details that make the difference.

“Once you reach a certain level, your body doesn’t respond as dramatically to changes. It’s no longer about big leaps but rather small percentages and details. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what to work on. Our bodies have limits, even if we don’t know where they lie. But I believe our minds are stronger than our bodies.”

Prioritizing health over concerts

Learning from last season, Kateřina Janatová decided to take it easy with her off-sport activities this year. While she used to enjoy accompanying concerts after race days, this time she opted for a strict regimen and early bedtimes.

“Last year, I was quite sick, and I feel it started right after Blink. I was tired and went to a concert. This year, I’ve tried to limit that social aspect to avoid risks. I already felt the onset of a cold, so I’m doing everything to stay healthy – eating fruits and vegetables, getting quality sleep, and training well.”

Avoiding injury in Summer

During the roller ski races in a group, Kateřina admits to feeling a slight uncertainty. In the past, she didn’t have as many opportunities in the Czech environment to train or compete in such a large and balanced field as the Norwegian athletes do. Moreover, she consciously avoids risks in summer races. Unlike the Norwegian competitors, who are in important home races where they need to achieve the best possible results.

“I have a bit of fear on roller skis – not of falling, but of getting injured. If it were the World Cup or World Championships, I would take more risks. But in summer, it’s an exhibition, and no one wants to get injured. Contact racing in a large group doesn’t suit me completely; I lack the practice from younger categories, where I mostly raced at the front and didn’t have to fight for position.”

Winter is the main focus

The schedule for the Czech representative is set to be fast-paced in the coming weeks. From Norway, she and her team will move to a training camp in Torsby, Sweden, after which she will participate in a long-distance race in Trollhättan, which will be largely contested in classic style.

At the end of September, she will briefly return to the Czech Republic for the national championships in roller skiing and is also considering participating in the Lipnoloppet.

The autumn preparation will culminate in a three-week block in high-altitude training in Font-Romeu, France, from where it will only be a short step to her first competitive starts on snow in Davos or Beitostølen.

“I’ve never had great form in summer; winter is what matters to me, and I always perform better on snow. But I believe I’m on the right track and don’t want to underestimate anything,” she concludes with a smile.

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