Kateřina Janatová traveled to the Olympic Games with a quiet sense that her form was building. And it proved true. Enormous hard work lies behind her best Olympic result to date. And she still has more opportunities ahead.

By the beginning of January, there were already signs it could come together.

“I tried to train as well as possible. In January, I sensed that my performance had improved significantly. I felt very good in training, and the numbers from summer training showed it too,” she says.

She sacrificed everything in the final month before the Games. Literally.

“I gave everything to that last month. I may never have trained this well. I’m glad it paid off. I didn’t see my family, and I stayed isolated so I wouldn’t get sick. I did nothing but sleep, eat, and train, over and over.”

She also looked to last season for inspiration.

“I looked at how I trained before Trondheim at the World Championships, where I was also in very good form. I copied a lot of that and included tough sessions. I think it paid off.”

Seventh place

When asked what she would have said to a seventh-place finish just a few weeks before the Games, the answer was clear:

“I would have been extremely happy.”

Today she adds:

“And I still feel that way. I’m already satisfied with the result. And I still have the team sprint and the 50km ahead of me, so we’ll see what that brings. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t. But I’m already satisfied with myself.”

Also Read – Olympics 2026: Complete guide to the women’s Team Sprint

Improvement in classic technique

This season has also shown significant improvement in her classic technique. She downplays the surprise.

“I already had good classic results last year. I think I improved a lot in double poling; I trained it a lot. Overall, the preparation came together well.”

Service has also played a big role.

“In classic, I now have good skis as well, and that really helps me achieve strong results.”

Slower start

At the beginning of the season, she was not as prominent as last year. Was that part of the Olympic plan?

“It definitely wasn’t the plan to be average. I was a bit sick before the season and didn’t train as much, which showed. Of course, I expected and hoped to perform well from the start,” she says, according to Bezky.net.

She also knows that the second half of the winter usually suits her better.

“I usually have a stronger second half of the season after the Tour de Ski. At the start of the season, I was a bit disappointed, but that only made me more motivated to train better, even during races, so that I would be as prepared as possible for the Olympics.”

Searching for balance

She did not make major changes in preparation.

“I didn’t change much because it was working. I wanted to take a small step forward, but my body wouldn’t allow me to train more.”

Health fluctuations slowed her down.

“Every time I started training more, I got sick. It kept going in circles. So, I didn’t fully do what I had planned. I had to find another way to allow my body to handle the necessary intensity.”

The Olympics are different, but routine helps

Can you approach an Olympic race like any other?

“I remind myself that it’s the Olympic Games. It’s more important to me, more emotional,” she admits.

At the same time, she sticks to her routine.

“We meet the same people, so around me it feels like a World Cup. But I’m aware of the prestige, especially in the media.”

She tries to enjoy the races.

“I try not to stress about the result. When I put the stress aside and stay in my flow, the result is better. You can see it in my skiing, it’s more relaxed.”

The Olympic atmosphere suits her.

“It’s amazing how many people are here and what it means to everyone around. It really fulfills me.”

Family support

Her closest supporters are in the stands.

“My family is here, and it’s beautiful. They get emotional when they see me on the course. They cheer, they’re proud of me. I really appreciate that.”

Sharing the joy makes it stronger.

“It’s wonderful when you can share experiences and results with your family. And it’s even better when the race goes well, and the whole Czech team is excited. When the work pays off, that’s why we do it.”

One more Olympics?

She is 28, and questions about the future naturally arise.

“I’ve thought about it a bit. I told myself I might want to stop. But when I see other women who are 35 or 36 and still racing…”

Another Olympics appeals to her.

“If I can ski like I am now or better, I would like to try one more Olympic Games. But it will depend on how my body responds and whether I still enjoy it.”

Motivation is key.

“If it doesn’t fulfill me, I won’t give everything in training. And I wouldn’t want that.”

At the same time, she is thinking about life after her career.

“After another Olympics, I’ll think more about starting a family. That can’t be postponed forever.”

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

FACTS 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games – Cross-Country Skiing

• When: Saturday 7, to Sunday, February 22, 2026
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Val di Fiemme, Italy
• What: Milano-Cortina 2026

Saturday, February 7: 20km Skiathlon C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Women

Sunday, February 8: 20km Skiathlon C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Men

Tuesday, February 10: Sprint C Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:15 CET: Sprint Quali C, Women
• 9:55 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 11:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Thursday, February 12: 10km Interval Start F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval F, Women

Friday, February 13: 10km Interval Start F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval F, Men

Saturday, February 14: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Women

Sunday, February 15: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Team Sprint Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Women
• 10:15 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 12:15 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

Saturday, February 21: 50km Mass Start C Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Men

Sunday, February 22: 50km Mass Start C Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Val di Fiemme, a classic Nordic skiing venue, promises thrilling racing on courses steeped in Olympic history. Fans around the World will have the chance to cheer on athletes across all distances, from explosive sprints to grueling marathons.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.