She was scared of water. Now, she’s in the national team for the first time. Beková competes with a unique motto

A debutant in the national team who loves baking, is fascinated by the human brain, and used to be scared of water. And when she travels, she makes sure her boat is on the roof or trailer with the bottom facing down and the bow pointing forward. "No one wants to flip over or go backwards on the course," smiles kayaker Kateřina Beková. At twenty-one, she made it into the senior national canoe slalom team for the first time.

She won't forget the last weekend of April anytime soon. She withstood the pressure of the qualification races and became a national team member. In the decisive race, she finished second, just four hundredths of a second behind Antonie Galušková. "When I finished and saw that I would be on the podium, I suspected it might work out," she recalls. "A tear fell, but I didn't have the strength or desire to celebrate. The long qualification process drained me."

It was a sweet reward for the girl who started on wild water at the age of five in her hometown of Opava. She was considered a hyperactive child: she attended almost all available clubs, including gymnastics and athletics. "I loved running, which I don’t enjoy much now," she laughs. "I had a few crises on the water, but my mom kept me in slalom. I’m grateful to both of my parents for where I am today." As a teenager, she hated Eskimo rolls and was afraid of drowning. "The older boys had a lot of fun trying to dunk me. It forced me to learn to stay underwater for a while, not be afraid, and get back up in time. The boys got bored, and I suddenly became stronger," she says with hindsight. "But I still have respect for the water; without it, I couldn't do this."

At fifteen, she swapped Opava for Prague, moving to the capital with just her mother. "In the middle of my first year of high school, I had attendance problems due to training and camps, and they threatened me with exams. When the opportunity to go to Prague came up, I didn’t hesitate. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed, everything was new to me, but now I wouldn't trade Prague for anything," she recounts after training in Troja. She radiates energy, often smiling as she answers, clearly enjoying this successful period.

She doesn’t like mushrooms, and you won't please her with dill, peas, or cooked carrots. At the beginning, we mentioned her passion for baking, but... "I don't actually like sweets much, so I usually give everything away," says the psychology student. This year, she could earn her bachelor's degree. "I love delving into the brain. It may sound strange, but I didn’t even mind watching the dissection of a brain with Alzheimer's disease," she describes with enthusiasm. She might one day pursue sports psychology, but there’s still time for that. Her career is promisingly taking off. "I never really thought about professional sports; I see it as a pleasant bonus. It’s nice to do what I love and get paid for it," says last year’s under-23 world champion in kayak cross with satisfaction.

Before she could hang the gold medal on her usual spot above her bed at home, she had a crazy experience in Krakow. She qualified from the last possible position, but then... "In the final, I forced myself to paddle fast to leave everyone behind," she laughs. "It was beautiful to hear the anthem; it's the best part of winning for me. I love cross, but it would be even better in slalom. Maybe it will come someday; I’m still at the beginning." Now, she’s preparing for the European Championships in Tacen, Slovenia, which will be her first major event among adults. "I’d like to perform in a way that satisfies both me and my coach. I’m curious how my head will handle it," says the future psychologist. "Last year, my mind surprised me more negatively; this year, positively. I've gained confidence, and overall, my paddling is better."

Tacen is unique; its course doesn’t suit many racers. "I might be one of them. In Troja, I can immediately tell if I did well or poorly, but in Tacen, you can't rely on feelings. When you think you did well, you have a terrible time, and vice versa," she describes. "I could sit on a wave that goes against me, but it might also slide beautifully. My coach says I can read water, so hopefully, I’ll manage this time too."

She used to paddle with the motto "Everything goes better with a smile," but on the slalom course in the northwest corner of Ljubljana, she starts with a handwritten slogan "Are you a player or a coward?" "The final would be beautiful, but I approach it with great humility," she says about her goals for the European Championship. She also has a theoretical chance at an Olympic ticket, which her rival Galušková is currently aiming for.

"It's a pity about those four hundredths in Troja," she regrets. "On the other hand, a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d make the senior national team and be talking about the Olympics. I’m grateful for what I have, and maybe I’ll surprise again." We will see her also at the World Cup In Prague soon.