Milena Duchková (Portal of Prague)

She was almost invisible at the very top of a platform under the dome of the Olympic hall Albreca, it was as though somebody had placed a miniature figurine from a nearby jewellery store there instead. Her 157 cm, 52 kg slender frame stood poised in an adamant statement of confidence. She jumped smoothly through the qualification heats and to top it off; on the very first night she showed everyone who is queen of this discipline by an excellent closing jump of three and a half turns.

In 1960 Milena’s mother brought her to Prague’s Tyrsuv House to Dr Cermakova. The doctor gave her a piercing glance and stated with her customary severity,”We don’t take such small ones!” Not to be put off, Milena replied with pride,”I’m already eight years old” She was right, despite looking five years old… After that they started to practice somersaults and back flips by the hundreds, the thousands, may be even tens of thousands. Čermáková always instilled into to Milena to be better than her competitors by at least ten points, so the judges couldn’t strip her of her victory.

In 1968, Milena Duchková dazzled the whole swimming world. That season I was winning nearly everything around Europe, including the European Cup which took place in Helsinki. Even though I was, for the first time, overseas and heading to the Olympic Games, I didn’t even register it, said Milena Duchková. In the final of the opening day of the Mexican ten meter diving competition she attained the lead with a seemingly effortless three and a half tucked front somersaults. As well as that, she perfectly executed the last and the most difficult jump and won an Olympic gold medal. Following her on the silver podium was Lobanova from the USSR; the bronze went to the beautiful American blonde Peterson.

Even at the beginning of the seventies Duchková confirmed her superb capabilities. In Barcelona she became European Champion in 1970, and in the next Olympic Games of 1972, in Munich, she won a silver medal and again, one year later, in the World Championship in Belgrade. When she finished competing she married volleyball player, Neveklovský; they both made a major decision that they would emigrate to Canada. This is why for many years to come there has not been much written or spoken news about Milena. Today Doctor Nevlekovská is a reputable dentist with private practice in Vancouver.