Czech athletes Lukáš Bednařík and Tomáš Staněk gear up for European Championships

Seventeen‑year‑old sprinter Lukáš Bednařík of Lokomotiva Trutnov won a bronze medal in the 400 m and helped the Czech relay team claim the European title at the U‑18 Championships in Rieti, Italy, improving his personal best to 47.03 seconds. He said, “I try not to be seen and then surprise,” and sees the performance as a stepping stone toward senior competition.

Shot‑putter Tomáš Staněk, a 35‑year‑old Czech record holder, recovered from a thigh‑fascia injury sustained in training and confirmed his readiness for the senior European Championships in Birmingham. He recalled the mishap, noting, “I injured my fascia in the thigh due to a heavy squat,” but added that the setback will not affect his preparation. Staněk, a former World Indoor bronze medallist and 2022 European outdoor bronze medallist, aims to improve on his season’s best of 21 metres.

Both athletes represent the Czech Republic’s strong presence in European athletics, with Bednařík’s youth success and Staněk’s experienced campaign highlighting the nation’s depth across sprinting and field events.