Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková has retired after a 22-year career marked by multiple Olympic and World Championships successes, concluding her time in the sport with an emotional farewell in Heerenveen.
According to ISU Skating, Sáblíková leaves the sport as a three-time Olympic champion and holder of seven Olympic medals in total, including three golds, two silvers, and two bronzes. Across her career, she also won five World Allround titles and 16 World Single Distance titles, establishing herself as one of the foremost endurance speed skaters in history.
Sáblíková began competing at the international level in 2004 and quickly became renowned for her dominance in longer distance events. Her consistent performance made her a defining figure in women’s speed skating, inspiring many upcoming athletes worldwide. She set a world record in the women’s 5000m at the 2007 ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Salt Lake City and secured multiple medals across four different Olympic Games.
Her farewell took place at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2026 at the Thialf arena in Heerenveen. During her last 3000m race, she received a standing ovation from the audience recognizing her extensive contribution to the sport. Sáblíková described the race as the best 3000m she had ever skated, remarking on the emotional significance of competing one final time at the venue where she first appeared as a teenage competitor in 2004.
Beyond her competitive achievements, Sáblíková was widely respected for her sportsmanship and the camaraderie she displayed with fellow athletes. She emphasized the importance of friendship in the sport and the mutual support among competitors, highlighting these as key aspects beyond winning medals.
Her career highlights include three Olympic gold medals—two won in Vancouver 2010 for the 3000m and 5000m events and one in Sochi 2014 for the 5000m. She also earned two silver medals and two bronze medals over successive Olympic Games through 2022. Her five World Allround championships and sixteen World Single Distance titles further illustrate her longevity and dominance in speed skating.
