Czech athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics: What to watch and when

The 2026 Winter Olympics officially began Friday, Feb. 6, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Czech athletes were quickly in the spotlight. The women’s ice hockey team opened with a dramatic 4-3 shootout loss to Switzerland and will face Finland tomorrow. Meanwhile, the mixed curling team lost to the U.S. and will play South Korea later today.

Czechia is sending its largest-ever Winter Olympic delegation this year: 114 athletes across 14 sports. Fans have plenty to follow, with medal hopes focused on ice hockey, speed skating, and snowboarding, alongside strong performances expected in skiing, biathlon, and figure skating.

Ice hockey remains the centerpiece of the Czech Olympic team. The women’s squad features players from North America’s Professional Women’s Hockey League, including Kristýna Kaltounková and Aneta Tejralová. After Friday’s narrow defeat to Switzerland, the team will look to regroup against Finland in a crucial group-stage match on Sunday at 9:10 p.m.

The men’s tournament brings NHL stars back to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. Czech players include David Pastrňák, Martin Nečas, Tomáš Hertl, Ondřej Palát, and Radko Gudas.

They helped the national team win gold at the 2024 World Championships in Prague and are expected to compete strongly against powerhouses like Canada, France, and Switzerland. Their opening match against Canada is set for Feb. 12 (4:40 p.m.), followed by France on Feb. 13 (4:40 p.m.), and Switzerland on Feb. 15 (12:10 p.m.).

Speed skating offers another chance for Czechia to win medals. Czech speed skating legend Martina Sáblíková, competing in her sixth and final Olympics, will race in the 3000m (Feb. 7 at 4 p.m.) and 5000m (Feb. 12 at 4: 30 p.m.) events, with her best prospects in the latter.

Sáblíková’s career includes seven Olympic medals, three of them gold, and she remains a symbol of Czech winter sports excellence. Nikola Zdráhalová will also compete in the women's speed skating events.

Joining them in the men's category is 19-year-old Metoděj Jílek, a rising star in long-distance races and the Mass Start. Jílek has already won three World Cup events this season and is considered one of Czechia’s most promising medal hopes.

Jílek will compete in the 5000m (Feb. 8 at 4 p.m.), 10000m (Feb 13 at 4 p.m.) 1500m (Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m.) and the mass start (Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.) events.

Ester Ledecká, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in both skiing and snowboarding, remains one of Czechia’s biggest stars. This year she competes in the parallel giant slalom in snowboarding (Feb. 8 from 9 a.m.), having skipped alpine skiing due to scheduling conflicts.

Ledecká aims to replicate her past gold medal performances, including her victories in Beijing 2022 and PyeongChang 2018.

Eva Adamczyková, returning to Olympic competition after maternity leave, will race in snowboardcross (Feb. 13 from 10 a.m.). The two-time Olympic medallist previously won gold in Sochi and bronze in PyeongChang and is eager to add to her collection in Italy.

Other skiing disciplines also feature notable Czech athletes. Alpine skier Jan Zabystřan, ski cross racer Lucie Krausová, and snowboarder Zuzana Maděrová are among those with potential to surprise. Cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping events include a full complement of Czech competitors, rounding out a strong presence on the slopes.

In the Czech Republic, Olympic coverage is available through ČT Sport and ČT Sport Plus, with live broadcasts, streams, and highlights. Eurosport channels and HBO Max provide additional coverage.

Fans in Prague can also enjoy the Olympic Festival České Budějovice, an interactive venue featuring live broadcasts, winter sports simulations, and equipment rentals, offering a festival-like experience for those following Team Czechia from home.