Boxing and gymnastics are the main disciplines in which
Romani athletes excel. Some have even represented the Czech Republic at the
Olympic games.
The stories of these athletes are being presented in a new
exhibition at the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno. Romani athletes also
represented the former Czechoslovakia in the past.
The first-ever Romani athlete to represent Czechoslovakia was
Miroslav Šandor, a boxer who came in 17th place at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.
A larger Romani contingent was supposed to travel to Los Angeles four years
later to represent Czechoslovakia, comprised of boxers Stanislav Tišer and
Miroslav Toráč and gymnast Dana Gažiová (today Dana Gažiová-Beránková).
Their dreams of Olympic competition were destroyed by the
Czechoslovak boycott of the summer games. "Every athlete who performs at a high
level and really works hard has the Olympics as a goal," recalls Gažiová–Beránková.
"Unfortunately the state did not let us compete. That’s what
bothers me the most about my entire career, because a second Olympics is really
a long shot for a female gymnast," the athlete notes, adding that she was not
the only one to shed tears over the political decision.
The next generation of Romani athletes did not come up until
the Czech Republic declared independence, with two boxers, Ľudovít Plachetka and
Pavol Polakovič, competing in Atlanta in 1996. Strangely enough, they tied for
ninth place.
All of these stories are being presented to the public at the
exhibition WORLD WITHOUT BORDERS – ROMANI PEOPLE AND SPORT (SVĚT BEZ HRANIC.
ROMOVÉ A SPORT). "Romani sport, past and present, is an area that has yet to be
researched. That’s why we have decided to tell the stories of the immense number
of these gifted, single-minded athletes, some of whom made it to the Olympics,"
curator Jana Poláková says.
The exhibition also presents members of the youngest
generation today and possible future Olympians, such as 11-year-old Patrik
Kroščen of Bohumín, who has been declared the European junior kick-box master
six times. The exhibit will be on view at the Museum of Romani Culture from 20
March – 21 September.
