Czech Judo champion - 

- How a lucky mistake can lead a sportsman to triumph

Lukáš Krpálek (born 15 November 1990) is a Czech heavyweight judoka. He is the current world champion (2019), former European champion (2014) and current Olympic Champion (2016). 

He said in one interview:

"My uncle used to do karate a long time ago and my brother and I wanted to do it as boys, of course, so he took us there and signed up. After a month of going to karate, we found out that it was judo, but we liked it, so we stayed. Now, of course, I am glad for the mistake, " the best Czech judoka recalled with a smile when he was six years old.

He started with judo at the age of 6 in his native town Jihlava under the guidance of Josef Šimáček and later Pavel Šimáček. His first coach in one of the parts of the Olympic magazine of Czech television described him as a child very tall, thin, but in terms of movement, gymnastic aspect not gifted.  

Since 2009, he switched with coach Lacina among the seniors.In his early days, coach Lacina called him "an intelligent monster", which very well describes his way of fighting on the tatami. In a match, he manages to keep a cool head even in tense situations. He is able to impose his pace of battle to the oponent, and few rivals are able to overcome it .
 Here are his main medals :

His height is 197 cms, weight 115 kgs 

Though during the last year Krpálek had tonsillectomy, body weakened by covid, was unable to fight with the best and lived a year full of sorrows he believes that in Tokyo he will again be gaining momentum. "I believe it goes up," says the 30-year-old hulk.

 In Rio de Janeiro were he won Gold medal

Good luck !

                 Thanks for reading

                                                      Margaret