# Kateřina Neumannová

Kateřina Neumannová (Czech pronunciation: ) (born 15 February 1973) is a Czech retired cross-country skier. She won an Olympic gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics, in the 30 km freestyle event. She is one of five cross country skiers to have competed at six Olympics.
She was also the first Czech woman to appear in both a Summer and Winter Olympics, having participated in the mountain biking event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Neumannová retired after the 2006-07 World Cup season.

## Career overview

She was a flatwater canoeist and downhill skier before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen. Neumannová made her first appearance in the Winter Olympics in 1992 in Albertville. Her goal was only to gain experience. However, in all races (both individual and relay) she belonged to the best Czechoslovak athletes. Two years later, in Lillehammer, she was already among the best. She was 8th in 5 km classical and 6th in combination with 10 km free.
Her training during summer involved riding a mountain bike and when the sport become popular she decided to begin racing. In 1995, she won a bronze medal at the European Championships, and she also qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Although cross-country skiing remained her main sport and her summer training was usually lighter, she took preparations for Atlanta seriously. "This time I left out the pleasant period and started abruptly. Thanks to it I achieved results in athletic tests that I last run in junior categories," she said before the Olympics. But her preparations were not in the best conditions. She practised in cold weather in Šumava while great heat was expected for the Atlanta race. On 31 July 1996, she became the first Czech female athlete to compete on both Winter and Summer Olympics when starting in the mountain bike race at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia, United States. She fell off the bike early in the race. "I overrun about 15 racers but then a terrible crisis came upon me. I did not race anymore, I just wanted to finish," she described the race. She mainly complained about the terrible heat and said it was one of her worst experiences.

### First major medal

Neumannová started the 1996/1997 season with a fourth place in the World Cup opener. The race took place in Kiruna and was run on 5 km free. Neumannová was content with the result but complained about soft snow she did not like. "If the track was more firm, I believe I would stand on the platform", she commented. At the end of the year she clearly dominated the Czech Championships on 5 km free and 10 km classic. She commented it was mainly training for her as the main goal for the season was World Championships. For it she announced a goal to finish among best six.
Only two weeks later, on 11 and 12 January, she achieved two second places in the World Cup. It was again on the 5 km and 10 km distances, but this time it was 5 km classic and 10 km free. The race was run in Hakuba, Japan on the tracks ready for 1998 Winter Olympics
On 17 February 2005, she won the 10 km free at the Nordic skiing World Championships. Neumannová defended her 10 km free title at the following championships in Sapporo on 27 February 2007.
On 24 February 2006, in her 20th and final Olympic race, Neumannová won her sixth Olympic medal, but first Winter Olympic gold medal in the 30 km freestyle mass start and became the oldest winner in the event.
On 14 January 2007 Neumannová received the title Czech Sportsperson of the Year 2006, a trophy awarded by journalists in the Czech Republic.

## 2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

In late 2006, Neumannová was named an honorary vice president of the organizing committee for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, the Czech Republic. On 25 July 2007, she succeeded Roman Kumpost as chair of the organizing committee for the 2009 championships.

## Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

### Olympic Games

* 6 medals – (1 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)
| Year | Age | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | Sprint | 4 × 5 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 1992 | 19 | 13 | — | 14 | 22 | — | — | 6 | — |
| 1994 | 21 | 8 | — | 14 | 6 | — | — | 9 | — |
| 1998 | 25 | Silver | — | 9 | Bronze | — | — | 6 | — |
| 2002 | 29 | — | — | Silver | Silver | — | 13 | 4 | — |
| 2006 | 33 | — | 5 | — | Silver | Gold | — | 6 | — |

### World Championships

* 5 medals – (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
| Year | Age | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | Sprint | 4 × 5 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 1993 | 20 | 8 | — | 16 | 5 | — | — | 5 | — |
| 1995 | 22 | 11 | — | 7 | 13 | — | — | 8 | — |
| 1997 | 24 | 6 | — | Bronze | 4 | — | — | 5 | — |
| 1999 | 26 | Bronze | — | DNF | DNF | — | — | 7 | — |
| 2001 | 28 | — | — | 9 | DNS | CNX | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 32 | — | Gold | — | 7 | 7 | — | 6 | — |
| 2007 | 34 | — | Gold | — | Silver | — | — | 5 | — |
    a. $^1$ Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

### World Cup
#### Season standings

| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings |
| Season | Age | Overall | Distance | Long Distance | Middle Distance | Sprint | Tour de Ski |
| 1991 | 18 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992 | 19 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993 | 20 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994 | 21 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | 22 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | 23 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997 | 24 | | — | 8 | — | | — |
| 1998 | 25 | 15 | — | 46 | — | 9 | — |
| 1999 | 26 | 6 | — | 18 | — | | — |
| 2000 | 27 | 17 | — | 20 | 18 | 17 | — |
| 2001 | 28 | 9 | — | — | — | 12 | — |
| 2002 | 29 | | — | — | — | | — |
| 2004 | 31 | 9 | 8 | — | — | 21 | — |
| 2005 | 32 | | | — | — | 41 | — |
| 2006 | 33 | 5 | | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 34 | | | — | — | 24 | 5 |

#### Individual podiums

* 19 victories – (18 WC, 1 SWC)
* 49 podiums – (48 WC, 1 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
| 1 | 1992–93 | 12 December 1992 | Ramsau, Austria | 5 km Individual C | World Cup | 1st |
| 2 | 1995–96 | 9 December 1995 | Davos, Switzerland | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 3 | 1995–96 | 4 February 1996 | Reit im Winkl, Germany | 1.0 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 4 | 1996–97 | 11 January 1997 | Hakuba, Japan | 5 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 5 | 1996–97 | 12 January 1997 | Hakuba, Japan | 10 km Pursuit F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 6 | 1996–97 | 21 February 1997 | Trondheim, Norway | 15 km Individual F | World Championships | 3rd |
| 7 | 1996–97 | 8 March 1997 | Falun, Sweden | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 8 | 1997–98 | 22 November 1997 | Beitostølen, Norway | 5 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 9 | 1997–98 | 8 January 1998 | Ramsau, Austria | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 10 | 1997–98 | 9 January 1998 | Ramsau, Austria | 5 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 11 | 1998–99 | 28 November 1998 | Muonio, Finland | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 12 | 1998–99 | 12 December 1998 | Toblach, Italy | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 13 | 1998–99 | 9 January 1999 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 14 | 1998–99 | 22 February 1999 | Ramsau, Austria | 5 km Individual C | World Championships | 3rd |
| 15 | 1998–99 | 9 January 1999 | Lahti, Finland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 16 | 1999–00 | 28 December 1999 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | 1.5 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 17 | 2000–01 | 17 December 2000 | Brusson, Italy | 1.0 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 18 | 2000–01 | 10 January 2001 | Soldier Hollow, United States | 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 1st |
| 19 | 2001–02 | 25 November 2001 | Kuopio, Finland | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 20 | 2001–02 | 9 December 2001 | Cogne, Italy | 1.5 km Sprint F | World Cup | 1st |
| 21 | 2001–02 | 29 December 2001 | Salzburg, Austria | 1.5 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 22 | 2001–02 | 5 January 2002 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 23 | 2001–02 | 6 January 2002 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 1.5 km Sprint F | World Cup | 1st |
| 24 | 2001–02 | 12 January 2002 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 25 | 2003–04 | 20 December 2003 | Ramsau, Austria | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 26 | 2003–04 | 6 January 2004 | Falun, Sweden | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 1st |
| 27 | 2003–04 | 17 January 2004 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 28 | 2003–04 | 6 February 2004 | La Clusaz, France | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 29 | 2003–04 | 21 February 2004 | Umeå, Sweden | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 1st |
| 30 | 2003–04 | 13 March 2004 | Pragelato, Italy | 15 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 31 | 2004–05 | 26 November 2004 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 32 | 2004–05 | 28 November 2004 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 33 | 2004–05 | 8 January 2005 | Otepää, Estonia | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 34 | 2004–05 | 15 January 2005 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 35 | 2004–05 | 22 January 2005 | Pragelato, Italy | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 36 | 2004–05 | 6 March 2005 | Lahti, Finland | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 37 | 2004–05 | 12 March 2005 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 38 | 2004–05 | 19 March 2005 | Falun, Sweden | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 39 | 2005–06 | 27 November 2005 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 40 | 2005–06 | 31 December 2005 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 41 | 2005–06 | 14 January 2006 | Lago di Tesero, Italy | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 1st |
| 42 | 2005–06 | 21 January 2006 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 43 | 2005–06 | 8 March 2006 | Falun, Sweden | 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 44 | 2005–06 | 11 March 2006 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 45 | 2006–07 | 18 November 2006 | Gällivare, Sweden | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 46 | 2006–07 | 7 January 2007 | Cavalese, Italy | 10 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 47 | 2006–07 | 20 January 2007 | Rybinsk, Russia | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 48 | 2006–07 | 16 February 2007 | Changchun, China | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 49 | 2006–07 | 24 March 2007 | Falun, Sweden | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd |

#### Team podiums

* 1 victory – (1 TS)
* 2 podiums – (1 RL, 1 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
| 1 | 1998–99 | 8 March 1999 | Vantaa, Finland | Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Hanušová |
| 2 | 2006–07 | 17 December 2006 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Erbenová / Rajdlová / Janečková |
Note: $^1$ Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

## Personal life

On 2 July 2003, Neumannová gave birth to a girl named Lucie.