Background
Vera Čáslavská was born on May 3, 1942 in Prague, Czechoslovakia (present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Vera Čáslavská. Photo by the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
José Martího 269, 162 52 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Čáslavská studied at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University, Prague. She graduated from the educational establishment in 1974.
Vera Čáslavská as a coach in Mexico. Photo from the official website of the Věra Čáslavská Foundation.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská during a training session at the Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
Tokyo, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes on the floor, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the Balance Beam of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the Balance Beam of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes on the floor of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the uneven bars of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the horse vault of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the parallel beam during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Sankei Archive.
1964
Prague, Czech Republic
Vera Čáslavská training in front of a mirror in Prague on December 7, 1964. Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone.
1965
Vera Čáslavská. Photo by Don Morley/EMPICS.
1966
Vera Čáslavská at the international gymnast meeting. Photo by Horstmüller/ullstein bild.
1968
Mexico City, Mexico
Vera Čáslavská in action during uneven bars routine at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated.
1968
Mexico City, Mexico
Vera Čáslavská in action during uneven bars competition at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated.
1968
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 50, Polanco V Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Gold medalist Vera Čáslavská is tossed into the air after winning in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around during the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games at the National Auditorium, Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1968
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 50, Polanco V Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
(From left to right) Silver medalist Zinaida Voronina of the Soviet Union, gold medalist Vera Čáslavská and bronze medalist Natalia Kuchinskaya of the Soviet Union at the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around during the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games at the National Auditorium, Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1968
1-1 Ninomaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0032, Japan
Vera Čáslavská and Yukio Endo of Japan attend their retirement ceremony at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
Vera Čáslavská in action. Photo by Don Morley/EMPICS.
2010
Vera Čáslavská was presented with the Order of the Rising Sun in 2010 by the then Japanese ambassador in Prague, Mr. Harada.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Gold medalist Vera Čáslavská (center), silver medalist Larisa Latynina (left) of the Soviet Union and bronze medalist Polina Astakhova (right) of the Soviet Union are on the podium at the award ceremony of the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
2014
Vera Čáslavská was presented with the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award, along with AP journalist Iva Drapolova, in 2014.
Vera Čáslavská was given the Czech Republic's Medal of Merit, 2nd grade, in 1995.
Vera Čáslavská was presented with the Order of the Rising Sun in 2010 by the then Japanese ambassador in Prague, Mr. Harada.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská during a training session at the Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
Tokyo, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes on the floor, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the Balance Beam of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the Balance Beam of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes on the floor of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the uneven bars of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the horse vault of the women's artistic gymnastics individual all-around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Vera Čáslavská competes in the parallel beam during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Sankei Archive.
1964
Prague, Czech Republic
Vera Čáslavská training in front of a mirror in Prague on December 7, 1964. Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone.
1964
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Gold medalist Vera Čáslavská (center), silver medalist Larisa Latynina (left) of the Soviet Union and bronze medalist Polina Astakhova (right) of the Soviet Union are on the podium at the award ceremony of the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around during the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1965
Vera Čáslavská. Photo by Don Morley/EMPICS.
1965
Hanedakuko, Ota City, Tokyo 144-0041, Japan
Vera Čáslavská is seen on the arrival at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1965
Hanedakuko, Ota City, Tokyo 144-0041, Japan
Vera Čáslavská (2nd left) attends a press conference on the arrival at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1966
London, United Kingdom
Vera Čáslavská in the United Kingdom to compete in an international competition in London. Photo by Murphy/Mirrorpix.
1966
Vera Čáslavská at the international gymnast meeting. Photo by Horstmüller/ullstein bild.
1968
Mexico City, Mexico
(From left to right) Zinaida Voronina of the Soviet Union, Vera Čáslavská, and Natalya Kuchinskaya of the Soviet Union victorious with medals on the stand during the all-around award ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated.
1968
Mexico City, Mexico
Vera Čáslavská in action during uneven bars routine at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated.
1968
Mexico City, Mexico
Vera Čáslavská in action during uneven bars competition at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated.
1968
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 50, Polanco V Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Gold medalist Vera Čáslavská is tossed into the air after winning in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around during the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games at the National Auditorium, Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1968
Capri, Italy
Vera Čáslavská with her then-husband, Czech middle distance runner Josef Odložil, during their honeymoon in Capri, Italy. Photo by Rolls Press/Popperfoto.
1968
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 50, Polanco V Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
(From left to right) Silver medalist Zinaida Voronina of the Soviet Union, gold medalist Vera Čáslavská and bronze medalist Natalia Kuchinskaya of the Soviet Union at the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around during the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games at the National Auditorium, Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1968
1-1 Ninomaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0032, Japan
Vera Čáslavská and Yukio Endo of Japan attend their retirement ceremony at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
1972
St. Margrethen, Switzerland
Vera Čáslavská in St. Margrethen, Switzerland. Photo by RDB/ullstein bild.
2010
Vera Čáslavská was presented with the Order of the Rising Sun in 2010 by the then Japanese ambassador in Prague, Mr. Harada.
2011
Vera Čáslavská holding the gold medal she won at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Photo by Kyodo News Stills.
2014
Vera Čáslavská was presented with the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award, along with AP journalist Iva Drapolova, in 2014.
2016
Prague, Czech Republic
Vera Čáslavská attends an event in Prague, Czech Republic. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
Vera Čáslavská was given the Czech Republic's Medal of Merit, 2nd grade, in 1995.
Vera Čáslavská was presented with the Order of the Rising Sun in 2010 by the then Japanese ambassador in Prague, Mr. Harada.
Vera Čáslavská as a coach in Mexico. Photo from the official website of the Věra Čáslavská Foundation.
Vera Čáslavská. Photo by Jaroslav Skala.
Vera Čáslavská with Mrs. Bush. Photo from the official website of the Věra Čáslavská Foundation.
Vera Čáslavská in action. Photo by Don Morley/EMPICS.
José Martího 269, 162 52 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Čáslavská studied at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University, Prague. She graduated from the educational establishment in 1974.
1968
Paris, France
Vera Čáslavská and her then-husband, runner Josef Odložil, arrive at Orly Airport near Paris, France, en route to Prague. Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive.
Eva Bosáková, Vera Čáslavská's coach
Вера Чаславска
Vera Čáslavská was born on May 3, 1942 in Prague, Czechoslovakia (present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Vera Čáslavská attended ballet classes and practiced figure skating in childhood and youth. After meeting Eva Bosáková, a Czechoslovak artistic gymnast who won medals at three Olympics, Čáslavská turned to artistic gymnastics as well. Having started doing the kind of sport quite late, at the age of 14, Vera revealed, however, an incredible talent which, combined with her natural propensity, attracted the attention of the sports community to the budding athlete. Trained by Bosáková and competing for the Prague sports club Slovan, Čáslavská won the national youth championships of 1957.
Later, Čáslavská studied at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University, Prague. She graduated in 1974.
The start of Vera Čáslavská's career can be counted from 1958, when her international debut occurred at the World Championships. She won a silver medal in the team event. After the triumph in the balance beam at the European Championships of the next year, she earned her first Olympic medal, the team silver, in 1960. Finishing second to Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina at the World Championships two years later, she became one of the top representatives of that sport at the time.
The next Summer Olympics held in Tokyo turned to be rich in personal trophies for Čáslavská. She took three golds, in the all-around, the balance beam, and the vault, and team silver. At the 1966 World Championships, she contributed to the Czech team's victory over the Soviet Union, winning the gold in the combined exercises. There was no one like her at the 1965 and 1967 European Championships where the Czechoslovak grace triumphed in every women's gymnastic event.
The brilliant athletic career of Čáslavská was threatened after she expressed support for greater freedom in her homeland. A signer of the Two Thousand Words manifesto, the athlete was allowed to join the Olympic team only a few weeks before the 1968 Summer Games held that year in Mexico City. Čáslavská dominated the gymnastics competition, adding gold medals in the individual all-around, the vault, the uneven parallel bars, and the floor exercise, and silver medals in the balance beam and team competition to her collection of Olympic trophies. The day after winning her last gold medal, Čáslavská announced her retirement from the sport.
Čáslavská subsequently had troubles with employment for some time because of her political convictions. After completing studies in training, she was finally given permission by the Czech authorities to serve as a coach of the national gymnastics team. Allowed to coach gymnasts in Mexico thereafter, Čáslavská served in the country from 1979 to 1981.
Following the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia which led to the collapse of communist rule in the country in 1989, Čáslavská was assigned adviser on sports and social issues to Václav Havel, the newly-elected President of the country. She presided over the Czechoslovakian Olympic Committee (known as the Czech Olympic Committee since 1993 after the dissolution of the union with Slovakia) for six years beginning in 1990 and was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1995 to 2001.
Vera Čáslavská went down in the history of artistic gymnastics as the most decorated representative of that sport born in the Czech Republic. A seven-time Olympic Champion and four-time silver medalist of the event, she shares the record for taking the all-around gold medal at two straight Olympics only with Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union.
Among female athletes, Čáslavská is third for the number of Olympic champion's titles after Latynina (9), Birgit Fischer and Jenny Thompson, both having 8 Olympic golds to their credit. Čáslavská was named Czechoslovakia's Sportsperson of the Year four times.
Čáslavská was a recipient of such major awards as the Olympic Order, Pierre de Coubertin International Fair Play Trophy, Czech Republic's Medal of Merit, the Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class, the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award, and the Czech Gratias Agit Award.
The winningest Czechoslovak artistic gymnast was inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame seven years later. There is the Věra Čáslavská Endowment Fund.
Čáslavská and Odložil's (whom she would eventually divorce) wedding ceremony was held at the Mexico City Cathedral.
Vera Čáslavská was a supporter of the Czechoslovak democratization movement called the Prague Spring. In 1968, the gymnast signed the Two Thousand Words manifesto elaborated by Ludvik Vaculík which called for more rapid progress toward real democracy in the country. After Soviet tanks entered Prague in August of that year, Čáslavská, at risk of being arrested for her political views, fled to the mountain village of Šumperk.
By openly defying Communist authorities, Vera Čáslavská had been ostracized until the regime fell. Prevented by the government from all visits abroad and from all sports events, both national and international, the athlete was essentially forced to leave the sport. In 1971, she was expelled from the Czechoslovak Union of Physical Education. The publication of her autobiography in the country was banned by the local authorities.
Quotations: "Gymnastics has become degraded as the participants have become younger. Once it was a sport of grace for women, never for little girls."
Vera Čáslavská developed a fifteen-year depression after the death of her ex-husband which occurred during the conflict with their son Martin in 1993.
Physical Characteristics: Vera Čáslavská was 1.60 meters tall.
Vera Čáslavská formed a family with runner Josef Odložil, a national track champion and Olympic athlete, while she competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics. The family produced two children, Martin and Radka. Čáslavská and Odložil divorced in 1987.
(born November 11, 1938 – died September 10, 1993)
Odložil was a silver medalist in the 1500 metres at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. He died from injuries sustained in a fight with his son, Martin, at a Prague disco.
(born December 18, 1931 – died November 10, 1991)
Eva Bosáková was a Czechoslovak gymnast who competed from the middle of the 1950s to 1962. She then became a gymnastics coach.
