Former Czech Paralympic and Cycling World Champion
Czech Republic
Europe
Jiri Jezek is a star paralympic Czech athlete who lost his right leg below the knee at the age of eleven years. Not letting his disability affect his quality of life, he had, by the age of 20, taken up competitive cycling as a hobby. Within five years, he began to emerge as one of the world’s top paralympic cyclists. He competed in his first Paralympic Games in 2000, winning two gold medals in Sydney. His success as an amateur made him intensify his training to allow him to compete at a professional level.
An influx of sponsors allowed Jiri Jezek to take part in his sport at a professional level and leave his job as a prosthetics technician. In 2004 he won gold in the Athens Paralympic road race. His life since then saw him compete at the highest level, winning numerous championship titles and races.
In 2008, Jiri Jezek won two gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. The captain of the Czech National Paralympic Team, his medals were for the 4km pursuit, and the time trial events.
His unique ability in his sport meant that Jiri Jezek not only competed with other disabled cyclists but with professional, able-bodied athletes as well. He is also the author of an autobiography titled “Frajer” and supports various charities. He organises cycling races for children and advises in the development of prosthetic limbs. In 2011, he was appointed a member of the UCI Athletes Commission. He is also a member of the Czech Republic Fair-Play Club.
Jiri Jezek announced his retirement from professional cycling in 2017, at the age of 43 years. This was three years after suffering serious injuries during the 2014 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in the USA.
Considered one of the most successful athletes in history, Jiri Jezek has made a name for himself as a motivational and inspirational speaker around the globe. He lives in the Czech Republic and speaks Czech and English.
“Jiri consulted with Karneval Media and provided excellent motivational programs for our employees including presentations and direct contact with the team. His contributions helped to establish a more pro-active and committed culture in the company.”
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