Helena Šikolová had a quite brief sporting career. After winning her only Czechoslovakian title over 5 km in 1970, Šikolová made her international début at the 1970 World Championships, where she was fourth in the 5K. At the next major international tournament, at the 1972 Winter Olympic Games, Šikolová won a bronze in the 5 km and was seventh in 10 km.
Šikolová retired from sports shortly after the Olympics and later worked as a children’s coach, secretary and mailman in Nová Ves nad Nisou. Her daughters Kateřina, Helena, and Petra also became a cross-country skiers, her daughter Helena competing at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games and Kateřina eventually marrying the most successful Czech cross-country skier, Lukáš Bauer.