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Summary for: ‘You only have one body’: How sports medicine helped an elite Czech swimmer conquer the English ChannelWhen Jakub Kačerovský, an elite Czech long-distance swimmer, decided to take on the Oceans Seven Challenge, he knew determination alone wouldn’t be enough. It was a goal that required more than steely discipline and a go-get-em attitude to succeed—he needed to ensure his body and mind were ready to endure the freezing waters of the English Channel, the world’s most challenging and iconic channel crossing.
The challenge involves a series of seven legendary open-water swims that test endurance and mental focus. In June he achieved it, crossing it in just over nine hours.
Swimming is often seen as a solo endeavor, but it’s as much of a team sport as any other. In Kačerovský’s case, his teammates included athletic specialists who provided expert guidance to ensure his body could withstand the pressure of such a feat. Doctors, physiotherapists, and additional trainers from MY CLINIC’s sports medicine department helped him build the strength and resilience to succeed.
Inside an athlete’s preparation
“I’ve been swimming since childhood, starting around age seven,” Kačerovský explains. "Water has always been my element, and over the years I’ve sought out new challenges and milestones.”
The Prague-based challenge-seeker previously medaled in the Czech National Championships and the World Championships in winter swimming. He has also participated in the European Junior Championships in open-water swimming, but calls his English Channel crossing his toughest challenge yet.
Oceans Seven is actually what brought me to MY CLINIC,” he says. "I wanted to be completely sure of my health and that I was fit to take on such a demanding goal.”
Today, he can’t imagine achieving his swim ambitions without the support of sports medicine experts. Next up for Kačerovský? The Cook Strait in New Zealand, which he plans to tackle at the beginning of next year.
Expats.cz caught up with the decorated swimmer during a break from his rigorous training regimen of endless weekly pool laps and chilly Vltava swims, to talk sports medicine and the importance of staying fit.
Congratulations on successfully crossing the English Channel! How did MY CLINIC’s sports medicine team support your preparation and recovery for such an extreme endurance feat?
Thank you very much for the congratulations! MY CLINIC supported me primarily through a comprehensive sports examination, which I successfully completed at the clinic. For recovery, I also need to see other specialists, and MY CLINIC offered me access to additional specialized care for that purpose.
What specific treatments or tests did you find most valuable in your training build-up, and which specialists do you consult with to ensure healthy training?
During my preparation, I took advantage of a full sports medical examination at MY CLINIC. My training focused mainly on swimming in cold water combined with pool sessions. I prepared for cold-water swimming by regularly training in the Vltava River at 11 degrees Celsius, twice a week for two hours each time. Pool training also served as mental preparation, as I swam long distances in a pool only 20 meters long, which is quite demanding because of the constant turns. From there, it all came down to discipline and attitude.
How do you differentiate between standard care and the tailored guidance you receive through specialized sports medicine?
The difference is significant. At MY CLINIC, everyone is fully dedicated and focused on issues connected to your specific sport—things that the general population usually doesn’t deal with. High-level training puts the entire body under strain, so these issues should be prevented through warm-ups, compensatory exercises, and, when possible, regular visits to specialists who focus on sports-related conditions.
How do you balance high-level training with recovery?
I have to admit that I don’t have much time for recovery due to combining work with an elite-level sport. Still, I try to take care of my body through sufficient sleep, proper nutrition, and compensatory or breathing exercises. As part of the Oceans Seven Challenge, I now plan to make use of additional services at MY CLINIC, specifically nutritional counseling and physiotherapy.
As an elite athlete, it’s important to maintain specialized care for your career, but what advice related to sports medicine would you give someone who plays sports recreationally or trains for their own personal benefit?
Specialized care plays a big role in elite sports, but I feel that in the Czech Republic, this area is somewhat neglected. Without compensatory exercises, health problems often appear that can force athletes to stop training altogether. Many of these complications return years later, and treatment can be costly. My advice is simple: Don’t hesitate to consult specialists early and give your body the best care possible, because you only have one body.
Why sports medicine matters for everyone
You don’t need to be a championship swimmer to enjoy the benefits of sports medicine, which covers a range of services, from rehabilitation and injury prevention to performance preparation, nutrition, and mental endurance. This area of expertise focuses on helping active people at all levels improve their game, from marathon runners to pickleball enthusiasts to avid weekend hikers.
At MY CLINIC, sports medicine is about more than recovery—it’s about keeping people moving and feeling their best. The clinic’s team of doctors, physiotherapists, and trainers works together under one roof to spot potential issues early and tailor care to each patient’s needs. Their approach blends medical expertise with practical guidance on movement, nutrition, and mental focus, helping patients stay strong, prevent injuries, and reach their personal goals.
Whether you’re training for the English Channel or your next 10K, MY CLINIC’s sports medicine team can help you protect the one body you have—so you can keep doing what you love, longer.
