Mr. Mužíček, in your professional life you work at Foxconn in Pardubice as a technology manager, in your free time you are involved in sports - especially triathlon. What was it like to be the first Czech triathlon judge at the Olympic Games? Can you describe your greatest experiences?
I found out about the nomination for the Olympic Games in March last year after a demanding three-round selection process, which led to me becoming the first Czech triathlon judge nominated for the Olympics. I left for Paris with great respect and humility. A big challenge from the beginning was the water quality and current in the Seine, where the triathlon race was held. For the first time I experienced so much uncertainty about the race and its possible cancellation. Another unforgettable experience was the huge number of fans - more than 10,000 along the course. When the biggest stars of the sport run past you and the fans scream so loudly that you can't hear the communication on the radio, you realise the uniqueness of the moment.
What was your job at the Olympics?
The official title of a judge is "Technical Official". It is not only the supervision of the rules, but also the technical preparation of a given part of the course. For triathlon at the Olympics, 38 officials are needed, who are divided into different sections such as swimming, depot, cycling, running or even supervising drones and safety zones. My role included taking over the athletes' equipment, supervising the refreshment station for the individual events and overseeing the handover area for the relay races. In addition, I was responsible for training volunteers, securing the area, and preparing the relay zone, including setting up carpets, signs, and the camera system. It was also my job to report any errors during relay handoffs and ensure the smooth running of the race.
What was your typical day at the Olympics like?
Each day started with a wake-up call at 4 AM, followed by a quick breakfast at the hotel and a bus ride with the other judges to the Grand Palais where we had our facilities. After a security check, we picked up our equipment for the day, followed by our first joint meeting with the technical delegate and the organisers. After that we worked with the athletes and the organisation of the competition. The working day usually ended around 2 PM, then we had a day off. The French team also prepared a sightseeing programme for us, including a cruise on the Seine or a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. I also had the opportunity to visit sports competitions, such as the Czech tennis team's bronze medal fight at Roland Garros, beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower and the swimming finals at the La Defense arena. During these days I also met Lukáš Krpálek and Barbara Seeman.
What effect did the rain and water quality in the Seine have on the course of the race?
This was one of the biggest challenges of the entire Games and also the media storm around triathlon. For the first time in my life, I experienced a situation where five different versions of the race were prepared depending on the water quality in the Seine. Competitors had the opportunity to test the river three days before the race, but due to rain and poor water quality, several training sessions and races were cancelled. Most dramatic was Tuesday's men's race, which was called off at 3.30 AM when some competitors were already on their way out of the Olympic Village. Eventually, the men's and women's races were able to be held on Wednesday, but more rain again complicated the heats and preparations for the relay races. The current in the river was another big issue, for which we had to adjust the position of the buoys, and competitors had to swim to the buoys from the side, which was clearly visible on TV.
Have you ever been a judge at such a big event in the past? Can you possibly compare?
I have been in the international environment for 20 years and judging triathlons is a hobby for me. My biggest achievements prior to the Olympics were the position of head judge at the 2021 and 2023 World Cup races, and the position of technical delegate at the 2018-2020 European Cups. Participating in the Olympics is a dream for every judge and athlete. However, this year we had only Petra Kurikova among the competitors. Later this year I am going to the World Cup in Karlovy Vary and in October to Rome. I would like to thank my manager Jiri Papakiriakos and all my colleagues who supported me in this campaign.
