Lurdes Gloria Manuel Claims Historic Atlet Roku Crown in Prague
Baví mě celkový průběh příprav, sestavování celého outfitu. Jen jsem na to měla málo času,
Lurdes Gloria Manuel arrived at the annual gala in Prague. The 21-year-old indoor world champion collected the Atlet Roku title in a light pink gown with silver feather details and Swarovski jewelry.
Manuel finished her morning training session in Papendal, Netherlands, before catching a flight to Prague for the traditional ceremony. She won the national award with 1383 points, defeating hammer thrower Volodymyr Myslyvčuk by 322 points. 145 experts participated in the voting process.
The victory makes Manuel the youngest winner in the independent Czech history of the poll. High jumper Miloslava Rezková previously claimed the symbolic crown at 18 years old as the Olympic champion from Mexico, but no athlete has won at such a young age since the dissolution of the federation.
Return to Competition After a Tough Recovery Period
Two years ago, Manuel collected the junior award at the same gala before transitioning to the training group led by Swiss coach Laurent Meuwly. The initial year together proved demanding after she sustained an injury during her first outdoor race, sidelining her for the remainder of the season.
Her return brought a global indoor title in Toruń and a personal best of 49.37 seconds in the 400-meter event. She also secured consistent top-three finishes at Diamond League meetings, though she finished fourth at the European Championships in Birmingham. Manuel is the junior world champion from 2024.
Pole vaulter Amálie Švábíková finished third overall with 1049 points following her bronze medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships and a subsequent career break due to pregnancy. Four-time winner Jakub Vadlejch took fourth place following a difficult season, while junior world champion in the 400-meter hurdles Michal Rada placed fifth and claimed the Junior of the Year honor.
Manuel Resumes Workouts Before South Africa Camp
Training sessions resumed in mid-October for Manuel alongside her large training group. Začátek po volnu je vždycky náročný,
she said regarding the return to workouts following her off-season break. Next week, the group travels to South Africa for a training camp, followed by a brief return home for the Christmas holidays and another three-week block in Africa.
Dušan Král earned Coach of the Year honors for his work with hammer thrower Myslyvčuk. Sixteen-year-old hurdler Linda Botková received the Breakthrough of the Year award after clocking 55.19 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles final to break both the European U18 and U20 records.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Atlet Roku Results
How many points did Lurdes Gloria Manuel score to win Atlet Roku?
Manuel secured 1383 points in the poll conducted by 145 athletics experts, finishing 322 points ahead of runner-up Volodymyr Myslyvčuk.
Who won the Junior of the Year category?
Michal Rada won the junior category after placing fifth overall in the main Atlet Roku standings following his success as the junior world champion in the 400-meter hurdles.
Which athlete previously claimed the symbolic crown at 18 before the federation’s breakup?
Miloslava Rezková won the award as an 18-year-old after her Olympic victory in Mexico, making Manuel at age 21 the youngest winner since the breakup of the federation.
Related reading