Prague Welcomes a New Tribute to Gymnastics Icon Věra Čáslavská

A new statue of the iconic gymnast Věra Čáslavská, created by renowned artist David Černý, now stands in Prague.

The statue, which originally made its debut at the Czech House during the Olympic Games in Paris, has been moved to the Czech Republic, where it was recently unveiled at the Tyrš House in Prague.

The artwork was initially meant to be showcased at the Tokyo Olympics, but delays caused by unforeseen circumstances led to its unveiling three years later in Paris.

“Věra was thrilled by the idea and said it was wonderful that there would finally be a piece of the Czech Republic in Tokyo,” Černý shared, recalling the gymnast’s words before her passing in 2016.

Standing ten meters tall and painted in the colors of the Czech tricolour, the statue quickly caught the eye of both Czech and French spectators under the Eiffel Tower.

Now, this remarkable tribute has found its way to Prague, where it was formally unveiled at Tyrš House in the city’s Újezd district, an area closely associated with Čáslavská, who trained there during her illustrious career.

“The statue is fascinating because, depending on the angle, only one figure is visible while the other seems to vanish. It’s an impressive sight, and I encourage everyone to come and experience how she seems to spin,” said Jiří Kejval, Chairman of the Czech Olympic Committee.

The statue, a fitting homage to the seven-time Olympic champion, will be on display at the Sokol headquarters in Újezd for at least a year, giving admirers a chance to celebrate the legacy of one of the greatest athletes in Czech history.

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