Czech former competitive pair skater (born 1963)
René Novotný (born 10 June 1963) is a Czech former competitive pair skater . With Radka Kovaříková , he is the 1995 World champion and 1995 European silver medalist.
Personal life
Novotný was born on 10 June 1963 in Brno .[ 1] Radka Kovaříková from 1996 to 2010.[ 2] [ 3]
Skating career until 1988
Novotný skated with Ingrid Ženatá from the late 1970s until 1981. Their partnership ended because she had spinal problems.[ 3]
Novotný's next partner was Jana Havlová. After winning bronze at the 1982 Prague Skate , they won the Czechoslovak national title. They went on to compete at two ISU Championships , placing 9th at the 1983 Europeans in Dortmund and 15th at the 1983 Worlds in Helsinki . Havlová struggled with ankle injuries.[ 3]
In 1984, Novotný teamed up with Lenka Knapová . The pair won four Czechoslovak national titles and competed at seven ISU Championships ; their best result, fourth, came at the 1987 European Championships in Sarajevo , Yugoslavia. They also competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary , Alberta , Canada, but withdrew after placing 9th in the short program.[ 4] [ 5]
Making their final appearance together, Knapová/Novotný placed 8th at the 1988 World Championships in Budapest , Hungary. She retired due to knee problems.[ 3]
Novotný teamed up with Radka Kovaříková in 1988.
They won the 1989 Prague Skate and took bronze at three events – the 1989 Nebelhorn Trophy , 1989 Grand Prix International de Paris , and 1989 Skate Electric . The pair placed sixth at the 1990 European Championships in Leningrad , Soviet Union, and 8th at the 1990 World Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada.
Kovaříková/Novotný won silver at the 1990 Skate America , bronze at the 1990 Nations Cup , and bronze at the 1990 Skate Electric . They placed fourth at the 1991 European Championships in Sofia , Bulgaria, and sixth at the 1991 World Championships in Munich , Germany.
Kovaříková/Novotný received the silver medal at the 1991 Grand Prix International de Paris , bronze at the 1991 Nations Cup , and silver at the 1991 NHK Trophy . They placed third in the short program, fourth in the free skate, and fourth overall at the 1992 European Championships in Lausanne , Switzerland. They finished fourth at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville , France, having ranked fourth in both segments.
They concluded their third season at the 1992 World Championships in Oakland, California . Ranked third after the short program, they overtook Canada's Isabelle Brasseur / Lloyd Eisler for the silver medal behind Natalia Mishkutionok / Artur Dmitriev (CIS). They were coached by Ivan Rezek until the end of the season.[ 6]
In autumn 1992, Kovaříková/Novotný moved to train in the United States, choosing Irina Rodnina as their coach.[ 3] [ 7] 1992 Skate America and 1992 Grand Prix International de Paris . Ranked fifth in the short and third in the free, they finished fourth at the 1993 European Championships in Helsinki , Finland. They placed sixth in the short, fourth in the free, and fourth overall at the 1993 World Championships in Prague , Czech Republic.
Kovaříková/Novotný received silver medals at the 1993 Skate Canada International and 1993 NHK Trophy . They placed third in the short program and fourth in the free skate at the European Championships in Copenhagen , Denmark; they finished just off the podium for the fourth consecutive year.
In February 1994, they placed sixth at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Hamar , Norway, having ranked fifth in the short and sixth in the free.[ 4] 1994 World Championships in Chiba , Japan.
Kovaříková/Novotný won bronze at the 1994 Skate America and silver at the 1994 NHK Trophy . At the 1995 European Championships in Dortmund , Germany, the pair placed first in the short program and second in the free skate. They received the silver medal behind Germany's Mandy Wötzel / Ingo Steuer . Ranked first in both segments, they won gold at the 1995 World Championships in Birmingham , England, ahead of Russia's Evgenia Shishkova / Vadim Naumov .
Professional career
Kovaříková/Novotný turned professional in 1995. They would win the World Professional Championships in 1995 and 1997. The pair toured with Stars on Ice for one season (1996-97) and continued to skate in shows around the world for a number of years.
Political career
In 2014, Novotný was elected to Brno 's city council as a member of ANO 2011 .[ 8] [ 9]
Results
References
