Hyncicova Named To Czech Republic Olympic Nordic Team
January 27, 2018 | Skiing
Defending NCAA Champion In Both Classic And Freestyle Becomes 36th CU Skier To Make The Olympics
BOULDER — Petra Hyncicova, the defending NCAA Champion in both the classic and freestyle disciplines, was named to the 2018 Czech Republic Olympic team in the Nordic skiing, announced Friday by the Association of Skier of the Czech Republic.
Hyncicova, along with former Buff Joanne Reid, will become the 35th and 36th CU ski team member to make it to the Olympics. Hyncicova will be one of 10 Nordic skiers competing for the Czech Republic in PyeongChang, South Korea in February.
"I'm really honored to represent the Czech Republic," Hyncicova said. "It's just something special, reminds you of how much you love your home country and how proud you are to be from there.
"I wouldn't be able to accomplish this without all the people who supported me and cheered for me through all the times," she continued. "I'm really thankful for my family, friends, my coaches and the team here at CU. I will do my best to represent Czech and the Buffs in a good way."
Hyncicova is a senior on the CU ski team. In 2017, she was named the women's Nordic National Skier of the year by the Ski Coaches Association and FasterSkier.com, and was named the 2017 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. She became the 15th female skier – and fourth from CU – to sweep the Nordic races at the NCAA Championships, capturing the 5K classic and the 15K freestyle titles. She won five races on the season and placed no lower than fifth in any of her eight races.
Through two meets and six races in 2018, she has won one race and finished second in four of the other five races. In 34 career races as a Buff, she has six victories, 16 podium appearances and has finished fifth or better 25 times.
The PyeongChang Games kick off in South Korea on Feb. 9 and will conclude Feb. 25. Nordic skiing starts on Saturday, February 10 and runs through Feb. 25. There are six women's races in which skiers can compete. It hasn't yet been determined exactly which of the six races in which Hyncicova will compete.
She will miss both the New Mexico Invitational and Denver Invitational and could potentially be back by the RMISA Championships, which the Buffs will host in Steamboat Springs on Feb. 22-25. The Buffs also host the NCAA Championships at Steamboat Springs on March 7-10. With her strong early season results, she has put herself in good position for NCAA qualification purposes.
KEY DATES
Feb. 9: Opening Ceremony
Feb: 10-25: Cross Country Skiing Events
Feb. 25: Closing Ceremony
OTHER CU OLYMPIC TIES: Hyncicova is the fourth known participating in PyeongChang from the University of Colorado. Along with Reid, the duo joins Brian Hansen and Kendall Wesenberg, both CU Boulder students. Hansen who won a silver medal in 2010 and will be making his third Olympic appearance in speed skating. Wesenberg will compete in the skeleton.
Hyncicova, along with former Buff Joanne Reid, will become the 35th and 36th CU ski team member to make it to the Olympics. Hyncicova will be one of 10 Nordic skiers competing for the Czech Republic in PyeongChang, South Korea in February.
"I'm really honored to represent the Czech Republic," Hyncicova said. "It's just something special, reminds you of how much you love your home country and how proud you are to be from there.
"I wouldn't be able to accomplish this without all the people who supported me and cheered for me through all the times," she continued. "I'm really thankful for my family, friends, my coaches and the team here at CU. I will do my best to represent Czech and the Buffs in a good way."
Hyncicova is a senior on the CU ski team. In 2017, she was named the women's Nordic National Skier of the year by the Ski Coaches Association and FasterSkier.com, and was named the 2017 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. She became the 15th female skier – and fourth from CU – to sweep the Nordic races at the NCAA Championships, capturing the 5K classic and the 15K freestyle titles. She won five races on the season and placed no lower than fifth in any of her eight races.
Through two meets and six races in 2018, she has won one race and finished second in four of the other five races. In 34 career races as a Buff, she has six victories, 16 podium appearances and has finished fifth or better 25 times.
The PyeongChang Games kick off in South Korea on Feb. 9 and will conclude Feb. 25. Nordic skiing starts on Saturday, February 10 and runs through Feb. 25. There are six women's races in which skiers can compete. It hasn't yet been determined exactly which of the six races in which Hyncicova will compete.
She will miss both the New Mexico Invitational and Denver Invitational and could potentially be back by the RMISA Championships, which the Buffs will host in Steamboat Springs on Feb. 22-25. The Buffs also host the NCAA Championships at Steamboat Springs on March 7-10. With her strong early season results, she has put herself in good position for NCAA qualification purposes.
KEY DATES
Feb. 9: Opening Ceremony
Feb: 10-25: Cross Country Skiing Events
Feb. 25: Closing Ceremony
OTHER CU OLYMPIC TIES: Hyncicova is the fourth known participating in PyeongChang from the University of Colorado. Along with Reid, the duo joins Brian Hansen and Kendall Wesenberg, both CU Boulder students. Hansen who won a silver medal in 2010 and will be making his third Olympic appearance in speed skating. Wesenberg will compete in the skeleton.