Jan Víťazka (born 27 May 1976) is a Czech former swimmer, who specialized in butterfly and in individual medley events.[1] He is a 2000 Olympian and a six-time Czech record holder. While studying in the United States, he also holds three school records as a member of the University of Cincinnati swimming and diving team from 1996 to 1999. During his early sporting career, Víťazka trained for Kometa Brno Swim Club under head coach Ondřej Butir.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jan Vítazka |
| National team |  Czech Republic |
| Born | 27 May 1976 Olomouc, Czechoslovakia |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Butterfly, medley |
| Club | Kometa Brno |
| College team | University of Cincinnati (U.S.) |
| Coach | Ondřej Butir Monty Hopkins (U.S.) |
Víťazka, a native of Olomouc, Czech Republic, accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played for the Cincinnati Bearcats swimming and diving team, under head coach Monty Hopkins.[2] While swimming for the Bearcats, he received six All-American titles and held three school records in the 200-yard butterfly (1:45.95), 200-yard individual medley (1:46.40), and 400-yard individual medley (3:49.79).[3][4] Shortly after his senior season, Víťazka graduated from the University with a bachelor's degree in finance and a four-year MBA. In 2010, he was inducted to the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame by the University for his stellar performances in the pool.[5][6]
Víťazka competed in three individual events at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He achieved FINA A-standards of 54.21 (100 m butterfly), 2:03.72 (200 m individual medley), and 4:24.30 (400 m individual medley) from the U.S. National Championships in Federal Way, Washington.[7][8][9] On the second day of the Games, Víťazka placed twenty-third in the 400 m individual medley. Swimming in heat three, he set a lifetime best of 4:23.81 to race for the fourth seed, a 1.6-second deficit behind winner Alexey Kovrigin of Russia.[10][11] Three days later, in the 200 m individual medley, Víťazka posted a time of 2:03.66 from the final of seven heats, but missed the semifinals by one third of a second (0.33) with a twenty-first-place effort.[12] In his third event, 100 m butterfly, Víťazka could not achieve his best result on the morning prelims, finishing in twenty-seventh place with a time of 54.34.[13]
References
edit- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jan Vítazka". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ "University of Cincinnati All-Americans" (PDF). Cincinnati Bearcats. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ "Bearcat Men's Records" (PDF). Cincinnati Bearcats. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ Malaska, Dave (21 December 2010). "UC Hall Of Fame Series: Honza Vitazka". Cincinnati Bearcats. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ "Four to be Inducted into James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame". Cincinnati Bearcats. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ Koch, Bill (27 October 2010). "Payne, Logan, Vitazka and King to be inducted tonight". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 100m Butterfly Startlist (Heat 5)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 200m Individual Medley Startlist (Heat 7)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 400m Individual Medley Startlist (Heat 3)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 400m Individual Medley Heat 3" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 317. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "Dolan breaks own world mark in 400 IM". Canoe.ca. 17 September 2000. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 200m Individual Medley Heat 7" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 310. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 100m Butterfly Heat 5" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.