Sabina Košárková: I'm heading to the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028

This year, you again defended the title of pump track world champion in Monthey, Switzerland. How did you feel after the finish line? Was it different than the first title?

Right after the finish I wasn't sure if I really won. The whole day we rode very closely with the Swiss racer, so I was waiting for the organizers to announce something. When my name was called, it dawned on me that it was really me, but honestly, I didn't believe it myself at first. I remember yelling into the camera, "Is that me?" Gradually it started to happen to me, then the most when I was alone.

Winning the first title was a dream come true. To defend it a second time is something extremely challenging, but at the same time possible. I was under pressure, but I believed in myself. I knew that I had already done it once, and that I could do it again. In the morning before the race, I even wrote it under my jersey and just before my ride I looked at the inscription. The emotions after the finish were great. Two weeks before the race, I had a lot of crashes at the race in Canada. I didn't want to compete anymore this year. And that is why I would like to thank my friend Kiki Nováková, who spent the whole week with me before the race and helped me get back into the racing mood.

2. You also won bronze at the European BMX Racing Championship in the Women U23 category. How do you evaluate this result in the context of the whole season?

I really appreciate the bronze from the ME this year. I know that I had a difficult time during the season when I was not feeling well due to a long illness. In addition, I changed coaches shortly before and was finishing school, so the training sessions were not as I would have imagined. Nevertheless, the race weekend went well and I felt in great shape. But sometimes it's not just about the result itself. He's more like the icing on the cake. For me, the most important thing is that I can see the whole path I've taken, and that's why such results mean a lot to me.

3. Are you the type of rider who loves change, or do you have one discipline that really describes you the most?

I'm the type of rider who likes change. At the moment, I see myself mostly in BMX, because I have been involved in it since I was a child and it is in this that I have my biggest goals. I take pumptrack and downhill more as a supplement. I think that combining multiple disciplines is not for everyone - it suits some, and not at all. But it suits me because I enjoy trying new things and I feel that it pushes me further, just by being in a different environment and gaining different experiences. Caroline Buchanan, who was able to win the world championship in two different branches of cycling, is also an inspiration for me.

4. You are currently training in Australia. What brought you there?

This year I visited Australia for the third time this season and I feel at home here. There are approximately twelve BMX tracks within an hour's radius, I have great people around me, and most importantly, I train here with coach Jayce Cunning, who gives me his full attention. In addition, the World Championships are held here next year, so I will have the opportunity to train on the track in Brisbane and prepare for it as best as possible.

5. What does your typical day in Australia look like and how do you manage to combine training, recovery and time for yourself?

A typical day in Australia is varied. I usually get up around six thirty in the morning, because the sun rises early. I either go for a walk or stretch. Then I have morning training, followed by a break, where I usually read a book or go to a cafe/beach, and if I have two-phase training, it's usually evening sprints or the BMX track. As part of my recovery, I have a sauna, plunges and recovery boots.

6. We know from the president of the Czech Cycling Association that track cycling will be part of your winter training. How important is this part of the training for you and what do you want to take away from it?

I will be starting track cycling in February as I am currently recovering from an injury. I mainly want to improve my strength and try a new training process. The Australians have also started it, so I'm curious to see what it will bring me.

8. Is there anything that you would like to transfer from the Australian system or approach to the Czech environment?

They have groups here where riders not only train together on the BMX track, but also meet in the gym or for sprints. I also like that each track has its own day for license rider training - for example here my home track in the Hinterland is open on Wednesdays, they have chips in and anyone from other clubs can come. And the local club races on Fridays are also great, mostly only children ride, so it's great training and fun at the same time.

9. When you compare Czech bicross with the foreign scene, what do you see as the biggest differences? And what do you think would help Czech bicross to move to a higher level?

I love that in Australia they have an open category for newcomers. I saw that it is no longer the case in the Czech Republic, and it is sad for me. If there hadn't been an open race where I could try it out and because of that I was hooked, I probably wouldn't be riding bicross today.

10. Who influenced you the most in sports and who motivates you even outside the bike?

In sports it will be my dad, thanks to him I have tried many types of cycling, I have been racing since I was four years old and I have huge support for that.

11. You seem like a very positive and determined person. How do you deal with difficult days when you fail or get injured?

I read books, listen to podcasts and learn from them. Specifically, I finished Just Go by Sayu Sakakibara and now I'm reading Visualise by Maya Raichoora. I listen to podcasts mostly in English, for example Mind Your Head. I think I learned a lot during my time in Australia, either from books or from the coach. It makes me look at losses and hard days differently. Injuries are a part of sport and I couldn't move on without them, even if it's hard sometimes.

12. How much does family support mean to you in a demanding sports career?

I wouldn't be where I am without the support of my family. Before I started traveling alone, my dad sacrificed everything. He went with me to training sessions and races every week, and that really helped me improve. I'm glad that I have that support even now, even though I'm 14,000 kilometers from home, and that they believe, as I do, that I'm on the right path.

13. What are your goals and priorities for the next few years? What are you most focused on now and what motivates you to continue?

The biggest goal for me now is the BMX World Championships in Brisbane next year as I will be competing in the U23 category for the last time and aiming for the rainbow jersey. After the WC, I will move to the elite because of the points for the Olympics. Now I mainly focus on proper regeneration during the injury and development of mental preparation.

14. Are you aiming for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles? Is this a goal that you are already aiming for systematically?

I can say that the preparation is already aimed at the year 2028. More or less, we already have a plan for the coming years, where I will again spend the winter outside the Czech Republic. It is one of the biggest goals.

15. What would you like to say to the young generation of riders who follow you and are inspired by your successes?

I would like to tell them to mainly have fun on their bikes and ride with a smile. And even if they feel that they are not doing well, as I do sometimes, it is important not to give up and to take every fall and every mistake as part of the journey from which something can be learned.