SSL Team Czech Republic is bringing a young and ambitious crew to the SSL Gold Cup Final Series. Ranked 21st in the SSL Nations Ranking, the Czech team qualified directly for the 1/16 round, where they will race from 26–29 November. The Czech Republic may be a landlocked country, but sailing has a long tradition there. With sailors developing on lakes across the country, the team arrives in Rio with a mix of young talent and experienced athletes ready to take on a new challenge.
The Czech team used their training time in Grandson to build something new. With several new members joining the squad, the first sessions focused on finding the right positions on the SSL47, understanding new responsibilities and learning how to work together as a nine-person crew.
Among the new faces are Zofia Burska and Sara Tkadlečová, who represented the Czech Republic in the 49erFX at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and are now campaigning together towards LA2028.
For both sailors, the SSL47 is a completely different challenge: a bigger boat, a bigger crew and new positions to learn. As Sara and Zosia explain, they are each other’s “anchor point” throughout the process, while the team environment gives them the opportunity to meet sailors from different classes and become one crew.
Watch the full interview with the 49erFX athletes here.
The Czech team is not only about the new generation. Leading the crew is Ondřej Teplý, an experienced Finn and ILCA 7 sailor with a strong international background. Teplý won the Finn U23 World and European Championships and has previous SSL experience, having competed in the 2018 SSL Finals in the Bahamas. His experience is now combined with the energy of a younger generation of Czech sailors who are still developing their careers across Olympic and other sailing classes.
The goal is simple: bring different generations and experiences together and turn them into one team.
For the Czech crew, the Grandson sailing camp was about more than simply getting hours on the water. With a coach supporting the team, the sailors worked through different positions and responsibilities, learning how to make the SSL47 work as a unit.
The Czech Republic already has SSL Gold Cup experience, having competed in Gran Canaria in 2023, where they were ranked 33rd. Three years later, the team returns with a new generation, new energy and a new crew.
Ranked 21st, they will enter the 2026 Final Series directly in the 1/16 round from 26–29 November.
The Czech Lakes are ready to take their sailing from the lakes of home to the waters of Rio. And this time, the new guns are ready.