Unknown Skiing Prospect Creates a Sensation from Silence – 'No one had contacted me before this'

The article describes one of this season’s biggest skiing sensations. 20-year-old Czech skier Jiri Tuž made his mark on February 14 at the Falun World Cup sprint, where he stood out among a dominant Norwegian field. In an impressive early run, he posted the fourth fastest time and, after winning both his quarterfinal and semifinal races, he advanced to the final. In the final, competing against elite skiers such as Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, Tuž finished fifth – a result aided by Even Northug’s disqualification.

Tuž’s performance is particularly remarkable considering that his best World Cup finish prior to Falun was 23rd, and he had placed only 51st in his very first sprint on home soil at Ruka. Following his breakthrough, Tuž received a flood of congratulatory messages, although Czech media had not previously reached out to him for interviews.

The article also contrasts today’s success with the golden years of Czech skiing. It recalls that just three days after Tuž was born on November 23, 2004, Czech star Katerina Neumannova had celebrated a World Cup victory in Ruka. Tuž’s former coach, Zbynek Valousek, reminisces about the era when stars like Neumannova and Lukas Bauer led Czech skiing to international acclaim.

Now training under Czech head coach Jan Francin, Tuž is focused on further progress – aiming to break into the semifinals in future races. He shares that both he and his 28-year-old teammate Michal Novak (recently runner-up in a Ruka sprint) had endured injuries requiring surgery and a month-long break. Despite these setbacks, Tuž, inspired by Novak’s abilities, is eager to compete at the upcoming World Championships in Trondheim.

The article rounds out Tuž’s profile by exploring his diverse athletic background. Raised with a naturally good command of English thanks to his mother’s teaching, his early enthusiasm for cycling and triathlon gradually shifted towards cross-country skiing. It is clear that his passion, coupled with the lessons learned from a dedicated coaching team, is setting him on a promising path in international skiing.