On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, David Kratochvil, a teenage swimmer from Tachov, Czech Republic, continues his training as he gears up for the Paralympic Games in Paris. (Photo credit: AP/Petr David Josek).
In Tachov, Czech Republic, 16-year-old David Kratochvíl is generating excitement as a top medal contender for the upcoming Paralympics in Paris. Once an ice hockey player, Kratochvíl switched to swimming after losing his sight to a serious illness a decade ago. His new path has proven incredibly successful.
Kratochvíl made headlines last year by setting world records in the 50 and 200-meter backstroke. He also clinched his first gold medal at the Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, winning the 400-meter freestyle. His outstanding performance earned him the title of the best Czech Paralympic athlete for 2023.
With the Paralympic Games set for August 28 to September 8, Kratochvíl is in high spirits and preparing diligently. This will be his debut at the Paralympics, and he’s excited about the experience. He has qualified for six events, including the 50 and 400-meter freestyle, 100 backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and the 200-meter individual medley.
Kratochvíl trains rigorously, practising twice daily for a total of four hours in the pool, complemented by gym workouts and evening bike rides. Although his friends are enjoying summer break, Kratochvíl remains focused on his goals. His only day off is Sunday, and he views the intense training as an essential part of his journey.
A unique aspect of Kratochvíl’s training is the involvement of his parents. Since blind swimmers rely on tappers to guide them by signalling when to turn or finish a race, Kratochvíl’s parents have taken on this crucial role. They use a custom-made tapping device, a long handle with a foam ball, to help their son navigate his races.
Kratochvíl’s parents are dedicated but admit to feeling nervous about the upcoming games, knowing how vital their role is. They balance their work schedules with training, often running around the pool to ensure they can be in a position to help David.
The public pool in Tachov, where Kratochvíl trains, is smaller than the Olympic-sized pools used in major competitions. To prepare, Kratochvíl plans to train in larger pools in Pardubice and Usti nad Labem, which are over 250 kilometres away.
Despite the challenges, Kratochvíl’s dedication is unwavering. His journey began after he lost sight in both eyes due to cancer, but swimming has become a significant part of his life. In addition to swimming, he enjoys playing multiple musical instruments, studying biology, and considering a future in psychology.
Kratochvíl’s sportsmanship is also commendable. He qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 but chose to withdraw to allow a fellow Czech swimmer a final opportunity to compete. For this gesture, he received recognition from the Czech Fair Play Committee.
