KLUB PŘÁTEL VĚRY ČÁSLAVSKÉ

In the special Olympic year 2021, the competition for Vera Caslavska Cup will be part of the FIG calendar (ID 16663) for the first time, with the support of the International Gymnastics Federation and the Czech Gymnastics Federation.

Věra Čáslavská (1942-2016) is the most famous Czechoslovak sportswoman and seven-time Olympic winner. Within eleven years of competition, Věra Čáslavská won 140 medals, 22 of which were the awards of European champion, World champion and Olympic champion. In 1968 she was announced the world's best athlete and the second most popular woman on the planet after Jacqueline Kennedy. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, she became an advisor to President Václav Havel and was the head of the Czechoslovak and subsequently Czech Olympic Committee. She spent her entire adult life involved in the cause of democracy and freedom.

History

Since 2012, the legacy of former gymnast Věra Čáslavská has continued in the competition "Vera Caslavska Cup" in Děčín, which she personally initiated and supported with regular participation. We will do our utmost to ensure that the international participation of competitors and the subsequent gala evening serve as not only a dignified reminder of our most famous sportswoman and gymnast Věra Čáslavská, but of the sport of gymnastics overall.

Tokyo, October 2014. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Ten of the most successful Olympians from the 1964 Tokyo games were standing in a row and waiting to meet His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Japan. There was a strict rule that every Olympian would be given only one minute for the royal audience due to the Crown Prince’s busy schedule. The Crown Prince, accompanied by his entourage and bodyguards, was welcomed with great applause. He greeted the first Olympian in the row warmly and after about three minutes, he approached Věra Čáslavská. “Oh, Mrs. Casuravuska, I remember you very well. Even though I was just a little boy at the Olympics in 1964, I do remember people talking about you everywhere.

You live in a beautiful country. I visited Prague in 1985 and I remember excellent black beer, Charles Bridge…” Members of his entourage were becoming nervous, secretly checking their watches, because the one-minute limit had come and gone. The Crown Prince continued, “I even tried to play Antonin Dvoržak’s viola masterpieces.” Věra smiled and said, “And do you know I was a samurai in my previous life? That is why Japan is so close to my heart!” With the timetable ruined as well as the nerves of his staff, the Crown Prince enjoyed the lively conversation with Věra. And when the Crown Prince smiled and bade his farewell to her, his staff visibly relaxed and were able to proceed with the scheduled events.