The Most Famous
GYMNASTS from Czechia
Top 9
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Czech Gymnasts of all time. This list of famous Czech Gymnasts is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Věra Čáslavská (1942 - 2016)
With an HPI of 64.45, Věra Čáslavská is the most famous Czech Gymnast. Her biography has been translated into 42 different languages on wikipedia.
Věra Čáslavská (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvjɛra ˈtʃaːslafskaː]; 3 May 1942 – 30 August 2016) was a Czechoslovak artistic gymnast and Czech sports official. She won a total of 22 international titles between 1959 and 1968 including seven Olympic gold medals, four world titles and eleven European championships. Čáslavská is the most decorated Czech gymnast in history and is one of only three female gymnasts, along with the Soviet Larisa Latynina and American Simone Biles, to win the all-around gold medal at two Olympics. She remains the only gymnast, male or female, to have won an Olympic gold medal in each individual event. She was also the first gymnast to achieve a perfect 10 at a major competition in the post-1952 era. She held the record for the most individual gold medals (with 7) among all female athletes (not only gymnasts) in Olympic history as well until it was surpassed by swimmer Katie Ledecky in 2024 after 56 years. In addition to her gymnastics success, Čáslavská was known for her outspoken support of the Czechoslovak democratization movement and her opposition to the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, she took this protest to the world stage by quietly looking down and away while the Soviet national anthem was played during the medal ceremonies for the balance beam and floor exercise event finals. While Čáslavská's actions were applauded by her compatriots, they resulted in her becoming a persona non grata in the new regime. She was forced into retirement and for many years was denied the right to travel, work and attend sporting events. Čáslavská's situation improved in the 1980s after the intervention of members of the International Olympic Committee, and following the Velvet Revolution her status got better significantly. During the 1990s she held several positions of honor, including a term as president of the Czech Olympic Committee.
2. Anton Heida (1878 - 2000)
With an HPI of 48.92, Anton Heida is the 2nd most famous Czech Gymnast. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Anton Heida (born 24 December 1878, date of death unknown) was an American gymnast who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics, where he won five gold medals. He won the vault, horizontal bar, pommel horse, team competition and all-around titles, becoming the most successful athlete at the 1904 Olympics.
3. Marie Kovářová (1927 - 2023)
With an HPI of 48.63, Marie Kovářová is the 3rd most famous Czech Gymnast. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Marie Ďurovičová (née Kovářová; 11 May 1927 – 4 January 2023) was a Czech gymnast who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, winning gold in the team event. She was born in Luleč on 11 May 1927, and died on 4 January 2023, at the age of 95.
4. Vlasta Děkanová (1909 - 1974)
With an HPI of 45.61, Vlasta Děkanová is the 4th most famous Czech Gymnast. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Vlasta Děkanová (5 September 1909 – 16 October 1974) was a Czechoslovak artistic gymnast. She was the first World All-Around Champion as well as the first repeat World All-Around Champion in women's artistic gymnastics.
5. Ladislav Vácha (1899 - 1943)
With an HPI of 44.40, Ladislav Vácha is the 5th most famous Czech Gymnast. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Ladislav Vácha (21 March 1899 in Brno – 28 June 1943) was a Czech gymnast and Olympic champion competing for Czechoslovakia. He competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he received a bronze medal in rope climbing and rings. He received a gold medal in parallel bars, and silver medals in rings and team combined exercises at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. He died during World War II shortly after being interrogated by Gestapo for his resistance activities.
6. Božena Srncová (1925 - 1997)
With an HPI of 41.70, Božena Srncová is the 6th most famous Czech Gymnast. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Božena Srncová, née Krejcarová (11 June 1925 in Prague – 30 November 1997 in Semily) was a Czech gymnast. She competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and the 1952 Summer Olympics, winning team event gold and bronze medals, respectively.
7. David Jessen (b. 1996)
With an HPI of 0.00, David Jessen is the 7th most famous Czech Gymnast. His biography has been translated into different languages.
David Jessen (born 5 December 1996) is a Czech male artistic gymnast, representing his nation in international competitions. He participated at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, and qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics, securing one of the spots available at the Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro. He also competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Jessen is the son of 1988 Olympic gymnast Hana Říčná. He was born in Brno, Czech Republic, but moved to the United States as a child. He represented the US as a junior before switching to compete for the Czech Republic. Jessen studied Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Stanford University where he was part of the Stanford Cardinals men’s gymnastics team.
8. Nariman Kurbanov (b. 1997)
With an HPI of 0.00, Nariman Kurbanov is the 8th most famous Czech Gymnast. His biography has been translated into different languages.
Nariman Khusanjanuly Kurbanov (Kazakh: Нариман Құсанжанұлы Құрбанов; born 6 December 1997) is a Kazakhstani artistic gymnast who is a pommel horse specialist. He is the 2024 Olympic silver medalist as well as the 2023 and 2024 Asian champion on the event. He is also the 2022 Asian Games bronze medalist on the pommel horse.
9. Aneta Holasová (b. 2001)
With an HPI of 0.00, Aneta Holasová is the 9th most famous Czech Gymnast. Her biography has been translated into different languages.
Aneta Holasová (born 22 February 2001) is a Czech artistic gymnast. She is the 2019 European Games silver medalist on the floor exercise and a three-time FIG World Cup bronze medalist. At the 2019 World Championships, she finished fifty-first in the all-around and qualified an individual spot for the 2020 Olympic Games. She represented the Czech Republic at the 2020 Summer Olympics and placed seventy-third in the all-around.
People
Pantheon has 9 people classified as Czech gymnasts born between 1878 and 2001. Of these 9, 3 (33.33%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Czech gymnasts include David Jessen, Nariman Kurbanov, and Aneta Holasová. The most famous deceased Czech gymnasts include Věra Čáslavská, Anton Heida, and Marie Kovářová. As of April 2024, 6 new Czech gymnasts have been added to Pantheon including Marie Kovářová, Vlasta Děkanová, and Božena Srncová.
Living Czech Gymnasts
Go to all Rankings
David Jessen
1996 - Present
HPI: 0.00
Nariman Kurbanov
1997 - Present
HPI: 0.00
Aneta Holasová
2001 - Present
HPI: 0.00
Deceased Czech Gymnasts
Go to all RankingsVěra Čáslavská
1942 - 2016
HPI: 64.45
Anton Heida
1878 - 2000
HPI: 48.92
Marie Kovářová
1927 - 2023
HPI: 48.63
Vlasta Děkanová
1909 - 1974
HPI: 45.61
Ladislav Vácha
1899 - 1943
HPI: 44.40
Božena Srncová
1925 - 1997
HPI: 41.70
Newly Added Czech Gymnasts (2024)
Go to all RankingsMarie Kovářová
1927 - 2023
HPI: 48.63
Vlasta Děkanová
1909 - 1974
HPI: 45.61
Božena Srncová
1925 - 1997
HPI: 41.70
David Jessen
1996 - Present
HPI: 0.00
Nariman Kurbanov
1997 - Present
HPI: 0.00
Aneta Holasová
2001 - Present
HPI: 0.00
Overlapping Lives
Which Gymnasts were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 5 most globally memorable Gymnasts since 1700.
