Martina Sablikova won Olympic golds because of practises on a pond

The Czech speed-skater Martina Sablikova dominated Olympic competitions in speed-skating during the Olympics in Vancouver 2010. This 23-year-old sportswoman won 3000 m and 5000 m races, and she added a bronze medal from 1500 m race. She became one of the heroines of the Olympics and one of the most successful Olympians in the Czech history.
However, the most fascinating thing is how she reached it. In the Czech Republic, there isn't even one rink for speed-skating. She trained with her coach Petr Novak in winter when a pond froze over. She also had a board in her small flat where she trained skating technique. In summer, she did cycling and skating on roller skates. At first many people laughed at them. However, the first successes came. She won many prestige competitions such as World Championship or European Championship, and that's why some sponsors began to support her. In the Olympics in Turin, she placed at the 4 position just about few seconds. Then, Vancouver 2010 came. After that, she has won the competition "Czech Athlete of the year" the second time.
In spring 2010, she won the Czech Championship in cycling, and she considers about participation in the Olympic Games in London 2012, too.
Because of years of hard work and self-denial, she became one of the most respected people in the Czech Republic. She shown to the Czechs that nothing is impossible and she gave them hope.