Petr Novák, former Czechoslovak speed skater and coach of the NOVIS Team speed skating team, 2018
Petr Novák, former Czechoslovak speed skater and coach of the NOVIS Team speed skating team, 2018Foto: David Sedlecký, 2018 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Petr Novák is the coach of the Czech national speed skating team. At the Olympic Games in Milan in February 2026 he was the coach of speed skater Martina Sáblíková.[1]

Cooperation with Sáblíková

According to the agency Sportegy, which represents Sáblíková, Martina Sáblíková will work with the national team as assistant to coach Petr Novák after the end of her active career. She said herself that she would help him as needed, sometimes stand in for him and occasionally lead training sessions.[1] According to the Czech News Agency, Sáblíková should take over the role of head coach from Novák in the future, but for now she mainly wants to learn. [1] Sáblíková ended her racing career after the World Championships in Heerenveen in March and had already tried the role of coach occasionally at the Olympic Games in Milan. [1]

Speed skater Metoděj Jílek, who won a gold and a silver medal in Milan, will continue to train under the New Zealander Kalon Dobbin. [1]

Sources

  1. ČTK / České noviny — 22 October 2026