Zdislav Prágr

Zdislav Prágr was a member of the Sokol movement and first joined AFK Kolín club in his hometown before transferring to Slavia Prague. Several other members of the Prágr family also excelled in athletics. Zdislav, better known as “Zdík”, won several championships between 1910 and 1914 as a sprinter and jumper and set several national records. At the 1912 Olympic Games, he was entered in two sprint and two long jump events but did not start. He achieved his best results in the 400 m and managed to beat the 1908 Olympic champion Reggie Walker and the hurdler Vincent Duncker in the short sprints at a meeting in Praha. Prágr even resumed his athletic career after returning to Czechoslovakia after World War I. In 1933, he became an Honorary Member of AFK Kolín.

Prágr enlisted in the Austro-Hungarian Army as a volunteer and initially served in Serbia in 1914. The following winter, he was promoted to lieutenant and was wounded. After resuming active duty, he commanded the 6th company of the 11th infantry regiment but was taken POW in 1915. In 1916, he joined the Czechoslovak Legion with a rank of corporal working in the field of physical education. After the Legion’s retreat to Vladivostok, he participated successfully in competitions against crew members of British and American warships.

Back in Czechoslovakia Prágr worked as a clerk and official of the AFK Vršovice “Bohemians” football team. He accompanied the team as manager on its 1927 tour to Australia. In 1928, he won the first ski race organised by his former club in Kolín.