Martina Sáblíková

Martina Sáblíková is a Czech former speed skater and road cyclist, widely regarded as the most decorated athlete in Czech winter sports history. Over a career spanning two decades, she won five Olympic gold medals, 21 World Championship titles, and numerous European crowns, dominating the 3,000 and 5,000 meter distances with a rare combination of endurance and tactical precision.

Her Olympic resume includes gold in the 3,000m and 5,000m at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, plus a third gold in the 5,000m at Beijing 2022, where she set an Olympic record at age 34. She added a silver and a bronze in 2018. Beyond skating, she competed professionally in road cycling time trials between 2007 and 2016, winning multiple national titles and ranking among the world's best.

As of 2026, she has retired from competition, closing her career at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Fans in the Czech Republic revere her as a national hero, and her longevity and humility have made her an enduring figure in the sport. [edit]

Martina Sáblíková grew up in Ždár nad Sázavou, a small town in the Vysočina region of the Czech Republic. She first stepped on the ice as a child, and her natural endurance quickly set her apart from local peers. By her early teens, she was training seriously, balancing school with early morning sessions at the outdoor rink in Nové Město na Moravě.

Her introduction to road cycling came as a cross-training tool, but it soon became a second competitive outlet. She began racing bikes in her late teens, and by 2007 she was competing professionally. The dual-sport approach was unusual, but it built the massive aerobic base that would later define her skating.

Her first taste of international competition came at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where she finished fourth in the 3,000m and fifth in the 5,000m. Those results, at just 19, signaled that a new force was emerging in long-distance speed skating. [edit]

The breakthrough arrived at Vancouver 2010. Sáblíková won gold in both the 3,000m and 5,000m, setting Olympic records in each and becoming the first Czech athlete to win two golds at a single Winter Games. She repeated the double at Sochi 2014, then added a silver and bronze in PyeongChang 2018.

At Beijing 2022, at age 34, she captured a fifth Olympic gold in the 5,000m with an Olympic record time, cementing her status as the greatest Czech Olympian ever. Her World Championship haul includes 21 titles across allround, single distance, and sprint events, plus multiple European championships.

Her final race came at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, where she finished 11th in the 5,000m after battling a viral infection. She retired immediately after, closing a 20-year international career. Since then, she has focused on mentoring young Czech skaters and making public appearances. [edit]

Sáblíková's public persona is one of quiet determination and humility. On the ice, she is known for her focused demeanor and meticulous race strategy, often starting conservatively before surging in the final laps. Off the ice, she dresses modestly and rarely seeks attention, which endears her to fans who appreciate her authenticity. In the Czech Republic, she is a national treasure, celebrated for breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation of winter athletes. Her coming out in 2025 was met with widespread support, further solidifying her status as a role model for authenticity. [edit]

Martina Sáblíková commands a support base defined by national reverence rather than organized subcultures, with the Czech Republic itself serving as her primary constituency. Her followers are united by a shared appreciation for her longevity and quiet dignity, celebrating her not through viral memes or specific rituals, but via a collective national pride that has followed her career for two decades. While no formal club bears her name, her retirement in Milan in 2026 drew an emotional send-off from crowds who viewed her departure as the end of a historic era. This deep connection places her high on global visibility charts despite her niche sport. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, she is currently the 21st most famous person in Czechia, a position she has held steady across recent measurement cycles. Furthermore, she ranks as the 79th most famous person from Czechia within the broader scope of international figures. These placements reflect a consistent flow of attention driven by media coverage of her athletic milestones and personal revelations, such as her coming out in 2025, which resonated deeply within the community. The data captures her standing among those whose names carry weight across multiple domains, from sports history to cultural discourse, without requiring the chaotic engagement typical of pop stars.[edit]

Despite her immense fame, Sáblíková remains famously shy and actively avoids the spotlight when not competing. She stands as one of the rare athletes to maintain elite status simultaneously in both speed skating and road cycling time trials. Her training regimen extended well into her late thirties, defying standard age-related performance curves for endurance athletes. Fans affectionately refer to her as "The Queen of Speed Skating," a title earned through unprecedented dominance in long-distance events. She owns a pet dog named Bobíček, who frequently appears in her social media updates. Her legacy includes becoming the first female speed skater to secure three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 3,000m and 5,000m distances between 2010 and 2022. A defining moment in her mythology occurred during her final race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where she finished 11th after battling a viral infection, receiving a tearful farewell from the stadium crowd. Additionally, her 2025 announcement regarding her relationship with Nikola Zdrahalová marked a significant cultural milestone, positioning her as a visible LGBTQ+ figure in winter sports. Following her retirement, a narrative emerged linking the success of her protégé Jakub Jilek directly to her mentorship, cementing her role as the matriarch of modern Czech speed skating.[edit]

Martina's younger brother, Milan Sáblík, also pursued speed skating, creating a family legacy in the sport. Their parents supported both children's athletic ambitions from a young age, often driving them to training sessions across the region. Martina keeps her family life private, but she has mentioned that her brother remains her closest confidant. She currently lives in her hometown area of Ždár nad Sázavou, where she owns a modest house. She has no children. [edit]

Martina Sáblíková is closely associated with her long-time coach Petr Novák, who guided her throughout her career. She also shares a bond with fellow Czech skater Nikola Zdráhalová, her partner, and has been a mentor to younger Czech athletes like Metoděj Jílek. In the cycling world, she competed against and trained with top time trialists, earning respect across both sports. [edit]

For most of her career, Sáblíková kept her personal life out of the public eye. In July 2025, she made the decision to come out as gay, revealing that she had been in a relationship with her Czech teammate Nikola Zdráhalová for 12 years. The couple met through their shared profession in speed skating and cycling. Sáblíková said she wanted to be open about her life and love for her partner, ending years of speculation. As of early 2026, following her retirement, the pair remains together. There are no public reports of children. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Martina Sáblíková's net worth at $2 Million in 2026. This financial standing was accumulated through a combination of Olympic prize bonuses, national team support, and endorsement deals with brands like Adidas and local Czech companies. The Czech government provides significant bonuses for Olympic gold medals, which contributed substantially to her earnings. During her active years, she also earned prize money from World Cup and World Championship victories. Post-retirement, her income streams include speaking engagements, coaching clinics, and occasional media appearances. She owns property in the Ždár nad Sázavou region, though its value is private. Her financial standing is stable, reflecting a lifetime of athletic achievement rather than commercial ventures.[edit]

Martina Sáblíková's trophy cabinet is extraordinary. She won five Olympic gold medals, a silver, and a bronze across four Games, making her the most successful Czech Olympian. She also claimed 21 World Championship titles and multiple European titles, dominating long-distance events for over a decade. Her consistency and longevity earned her the Czech Sportsperson of the Year award multiple times, and she was inducted into the Czech Sport Hall of Fame. [edit]