EYOWF 2011 Faces

The 10th European Youth Olympic Winter Festival (EYOWF) 2011 will be supported by young talented sport stars. Each of the eight competition disciplines on the Festival’s programme will be promoted by young Czech athletes who will also take part in the Festival. They will also become the faces of the entire competition.

Petr COUFAL - Figure Skating

	This fifteen-year-old champion of the Czech Republic from Brno and winner of the Czech Olympic Days for Children and Youth 2010 became interested in Figure Skating at an early age. Born in Ludgeřovice near Opava, this young man admires the Russian star Jevgenij Plushenko, who himself once made an appearance at the EYOWF Festival.

Vít HÁČEK - Ski Jumping

	This fifteen-year-old athlete from Prague, who lives and trains currently in Harrachov, was enchanted by Ski Jumping when he was two years old. He admires the domestic stars Roman Koudelka and Antonín Hájek, fas well the Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer. Apart from Ski Jumping, this three-time winner of the Olympic Days for Children and Youth and silver medallist from the Children's World Championship in Poland also enjoys fishing.

Petra HYNČICOVÁ - Cross Country Skiing

	This sixteen-year-old Cross Country Skier was introduced to this sport by her parents and she does not regret it. She admires the Norwegian champion Marit Bjørgen, who also starred at EYOWF in the past. The four-time champion of the Czech Republic would like to make her mark in front of the home audience at EYOWF 2011.

Jessica JISLOVÁ - Biathlon

	This sixteen-year-old biathlonist from Jablonec nad Nisou had toyed with another discipline, Ski Jumping. The champion of Czech Cup 2010 and twice the winner of the Championship of the Czech Republic in Harrachov 2010 looks up to the Norwegian biathlon star Ole Einar Bjørndalen.

Ondřej KELNAR - Nordic Combined

	This sixteen-year-old from Valašské Meziříčí started with the Nordic Combined thanks to his brother. Today, his role model is the Norwegian ski jumper Bjørn Einar Romøren. This two-time champion of the Czech Republic would like to win the Olympic Games and apart from sports, also likes dancing.

Ester LEDECKÁ - Alpine Skiing

	Apart from Alpine Skiing, this fifteen-year-old girl from Prague is also active in snowboarding. Talented Ester has many more other interests as well: apart from summer sports such as surfing, waterskiing and beach volleyball, she also plays the bass guitar. Ester Ledecká is a multi-time champion of the Czech Republic in Snowboarding, the most successful participant of the Olympic Days for Children and Youth and champion of the Czech Republic in the Super G.

Josef MIKYSKA - Ice Hockey

	This fifteen-year-old Ice Hockey player from Frýdlant is currently playing for the Hockey Club Bílí Tygři Liberec. He started playing hockey at the age of five, his role model is Patrick Kane from Chicago Blackhawks. Josef also likes to play tennis. This stats winner in the juniors is still waiting for his biggest success.

Eva SAMKOVÁ - Snowboarding

	The winner of the European Cup in Snowboard Cross in 2009/2010 began snowboarding as early as the age of five. Her ambitions are aiming high for this season. The seventeen-year-old athlete from Vrchlabí admires – among others – Michal Novotný and the Canadian Maelle Ricker, this year’s winner at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.