Marie Větrovská

Marie Větrovská was a talented Czechoslovak sportswoman. For her local club Větrovská took part in basketball, handball, skiing, and athletics. After working as a training instructor in schools Větrovská qualified to be part of Czechoslovakia’s gymnastics team at the at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Czechoslovakia went on to win the silver medal in the team all-round event. For the next six years Větrovská competed in multiple European gymnastics competitions including ones in Yugoslavia, France, Belgium, and Germany.

Through the Czech Sokol Community (ČOS) Větrovská was selected to go to the United States as a trainer. Due to World War II this did not happen but Větrovská was elected to a leadership role with ČOS. Větrovská coached the top gymnasts in the country ahead of the 1948 London Olympics. At the London Olympics the Czechoslovakia team won the gold medal in the team all-round event.

In 1956 Větrovská was named as the second coach for the Czechoslovakia team ahead of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. After graduating from university in 1960 Větrovská became the head coach of Bohemians Prague. She worked there until 1974. Větrovská coached gymnasts for more than 50 years up to her death in 1987. The Marie Větrovská Memorial has been held since 1988 and forms part of the Czech Gymnastics Cup.