Where Are the Trees? Synek Wondered After the First Race in Račice

In the morning, the thermometer behind the window showed zero. In the middle of April Ondřej Synek, the biggest Czech championship medal hope at the European Championship, launched a new boat in national design for the first time on the water of the Elbe Arena in Račice. “Talking me into it? That will not happen, I know what I want to achieve," the 34-year-old fellow smiled.

How was it, after almost a year, again on Czech water?

Last time I sat in the skiff was at the Olympics in Rio seven months ago. Then, at the March training camp in Gavirate, Italy, where it was warm and now here. It was okay, only my hands are not used to the oars, I had a lot of blisters. But I survived, in a week it all healed. I have to know what I want to achieve. Then there shouldn’t be any need to persuade me. Training is automatic. I just go. Winter did not help, but hot water runs here even though they have a small boiler.

Do you feel the power, the technique, the feeling in the pull is not missing?

I have been practicing honestly since October. As I jumped back into the boat, there was no problem, we were immediately rowing pieces, there was no time to think about anything.

So, with rough preparation, are you satisfied?

Rowing is a sport that does not allow much rest. The whole winter was run according to our plan, I did not have any injuries. Twice I went out to Livigno to train. I'm happy to have a problem with my back that I had last year under control. I focused a lot on exercising and physiotherapy. Twice a week I exercised at the Medical Center, I learned a new breathing technique and did a lot of cross-country skiing. It was entertaining, a great diversion and I gained a lot from it. I even finished eighth in individual fifty in Krkonošská 70. It was beautiful, I enjoyed that. There are similar kind of people hanging around the cross-country skis as they are at the Bikes For Life that I ride, as well as around the rowing.

Did you change your training program?

For the last four years, the European Championship is, I think, right in the spring the second big race, and I do not usually participate in the first World Cup (this time in Belgrade 5-7th May, note ed.). The only change is that it will be at home. Attention to me is a bit more than usual. I recognize it as a very important race, but I will fully peak probably at the World Championship in the USA at the end of the season. I want to show all I got even here at the European Championship and go to the Worlds as a European Champion. I am looking forward to it so much!

What does such a big international event on the home turf mean to you?

Here at home the last World Championship was in 1993, and I did not know much about the rowing then. Today I know the channel very well, I have been rowing on it since 1995. That's a big advantage. Maybe it does not seem like that, but every water is different, and if you do not know it or you do not like it, it limits you. I'm also looking forward to the audience, probably more Czech fans will gather here than I have ever seen. It's nice to hear their screams when you cannot do anything the last five hundred meters, it’s such a driving engine. Only large teams at  big events can enjoy that, the cheering is mostly in English. I hope a lot of people come here, will let go and create a true boiler.

Your Croatian second conqueror at the Olympics, Damir Martin, has not registered yet, what do you think about that?

We exchanged mails sometime in February. I do not know anything about his not coming. Surely he's getting ready.

You have not rowed here for a few months. How do you rate the changes?

There are some trees missing that I have always had as a orientation point. It has betrayed me a bit, I have yet to reorient myself. But I'm pleasantly surprised by the great food and the restaurant environment. I wish it will serve as best as possible to all the people around the water when we had such a nice areal.

Do you feel an interest in the championship among the people around?

Many people ask me for tickets, I will order some. Other friends will definitely buy them and they will also come.

Great expectations are left on you, as Mirka Topinka announced her blessed state.

She left me alone in this, but I'm glad her family life is going so well. That is the biggest gold medal for her.

How satisfied are you with the new boat?

The new one arrived a week ago from Germany. We changed the design into Czech colors, I colaborated with a graphic artist. I keep the other boat from the Olympics, not so much changed.

What program is waiting for you during these six weeks before the championship?

Training, training, training ... There is not much left to innovation. It all depends on how I trained in winter. The whole season then looks the same every year. Trainings, races, trainings, races. In the summer we will train more and at the end go to the world championship.