Vladimír Zábrodský

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameVladimír Olegovic•Zábrodský
Used nameVladimír•Zábrodský
Born7 March 1923 in Praha (Prague), Hlavní město Praha (CZE)
Died20 March 2020 in Solna, Stockholm (SWE)
AffiliationsLTC Praha, Praha (CZE) / Sparta Praha, Praha (CZE)
NOC Czechoslovakia
Nationality Czechia
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

The captain of the Czechoslovakian teams that won the World Championships in 1947 and 1949, Vladimír Zábrodský was considered one of the greatest Czech players in the years after World War II. A forward, he played in over 300 games and scored over 500 goals in the Czech Leagues, always playing in Prague, mostly with LTC Praha, then later in his career with TJ Spartak Praha Sokolova and ČKD Praha. His extremely long career lasted from 1936-65. His career was suspended, however, from 1960-63, after he was found to have been involved in a gambling scandal. In addition to his two World titles, Zábrodský skated for the Czechoslovak team that won a silver medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics. Zábrodský was capped 93 times, scoring 158 international goals. He was the brother of Oldřich Zábrodský who played on the 1948 Olympic team with him.

In 1950, Vladimír Zábrodský and 11 of his teammates were arrested by Czechoslovakian authorities and accused of treason, specifically that they were planning on defecting at the World Championships that year. The other 11 teammates were imprisoned, some for up to 14 years, and were tortured and forced to work in uranium mines without protection, likely leading to the death of at least one player, Bohumil Modrý. The fact that Zábrodský, alone among the players, was not found guilty, led to suspicion that he was a spy for the government and possibly even for the KGB. In 1964 Zábrodský emigrated to Sweden where he coached various Swedish hockey clubs, but also coached tennis. Zábrodský had been a top tennis player in Czechoslovakia and had played in some Davis Cup ties. He was runner-up in men’s singles at the 1955 Czechoslovakian Tennis Nationals and made the semi-finals several other times. Vladimír Zábrodský was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1948 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) TCH CZE Vladimír Zábrodský
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Czechoslovakia 2 Silver
1956 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) TCH CZE Vladimír Zábrodský
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Czechoslovakia 5

Other participations

Games Role NOC Nationality As
1948 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony TCH CZE Vladimír Zábrodský

Olympic family relations

Special Notes