Czech athletes delivered a historic double-medal performance at the Winter Olympics in Italy on Sunday, as 22-year-old Zuzana Maděrová claimed gold in the parallel giant slalom and teenager Metoděj Jílek secured silver in the 5,000-meter speed skating event.

The victories sparked celebrations across the Czech Republic, marking the nation’s most successful day of the 2026 Games so far. Maděrová, a native of Liberec, stunned the field in sunny Livigno by defeating Austria’s Sabine Payer in the final. The win also symbolized a generational shift in Czech winter sports, coming after legendary teammate Ester Ledecká was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

“Being an Olympic champion sounds great, I'm not used to it yet,” Maděrová told Czech Television. “It's a dream come true, more than a dream come true. I always wanted to compete with the best, but I never thought I could win.”

Later in the day, 19-year-old Metoděj Jílek produced a breakthrough performance in Milan, securing silver in his first-ever Olympic appearance. His success has drawn attention to the long-standing lack of professional training facilities for speed skaters in the Czech Republic.

President Petr Pavel, who watched the snowboarding events in Livigno, praised the athletes on social media, calling it a “successful Olympic day for the Czech Republic.” Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Sports Minister Boris Šťastný also congratulated the pair, with Šťastný describing Jílek’s rise as “a story like from an American movie.”

While the spotlight was on the new medalists, three-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecká was unable to defend her title, finishing fifth after a mistake in the quarterfinals. She later apologized to fans and praised Maděrová, saying she “deserved it for the whole season.”

As of Monday morning, February 9, 2026, the Czech Republic sits in 7th place on the overall medal table, tied with France and Sweden. The team now looks ahead to upcoming events, with Ledecká still considered a strong medal contender in the women’s Super-G skiing event later this week.