Published: 04.01.2023
The best Czech triathlete, Radim Grebík, is an engine driver. This student of the Faculty of Transport Engineering decided to swap swimming, cycling and running for the railway, which he had dreamed of since he was a little boy.
You have been called the best Czech triathlete, yet you decided to leave the sport behind. Why?
I got into elite sports a few years ago by accident. Now, I'm at a certain level where I realise it's not my place. The best athletes think differently, are dedicated to their sport and work on the details to push their limits just that little bit further. But this is not who I am, so I decided to switch gears and be close to the sport only at national level. I always felt more at home on the railway, which is why I started working as an engine driver.
That’s a very brave decision... What did the people around you think?
I was worried about how the sporting community would take it. With Olympic qualifying starting this year, there were high hopes for me, and everyone took my pursuit of the Olympics for granted. I didn't admit it for a long time. However, when the reality of it all started to sink in, I had to admit that going down this path was not a priority for me. But I haven't encountered an outright negative reaction yet. I promised to stay close to triathlon.
Is it just a passion for trains, or is it also thinking about the future? You can only do top-level sport for a few years.
It's the feeling of doing something meaningful and seeing the results of your work. In my case, it’s about getting people to their work safely and on time in the morning, kids to school and maybe trips at the weekend. Unfortunately, professional sport has rarely brought me that.
Did you dream of working on the railway as a kid?
Well, yes, although we don't have anyone in the family who works on the railway. The railroad fascinated me with its order, organisation, railway community, and seeming flawlessness, which may sound somewhat funny today. I have always been interested in anything that moves, has a system and serves the public. I've watched public transport and wondered why services run the way they do, when they should best run and so on. "Transport" in Pardubice was the first goal as early as elementary school. At the same time, I was looking for a job as an engine driver because they should be the most responsible traffic-wise. In short, I was also attracted by the practice.
Indeed, a sports career doesn't fit into this plan…
It doesn't, but I'm not giving up completely. Movement is my thing. Even with work and school, I'd like to keep fit so I can still race with the boys. I've got far in triathlon, and it would be a shame to throw it all away. We'll see how I get on with training tailored to work. The spring races will give me some feedback.
When did you start doing triathlon?
In 2017, I nominated myself for the Children and Youth Olympics in Brno. That was the coincidence I mentioned earlier. I had been to the previous Olympics as a swimmer, which was a fantastic event. It's just that sports have age limits, and I mostly didn't fit into that range in 2017. That left only sailing and triathlon. The choice was obvious since I had no idea about sailing, whereas cycling and running were closer to my heart. So, I gave it a try.
The year 2017 is not so long ago, so you became a professional athlete in a very short time.
True, but I had the advantage of unknowingly training in all three triathlon disciplines up until then. The bicycle was my most common means of transportation, and I had enjoyed orienteering for a year before the triathlon. And in terms of swimming, I had some experience from an early age.
When did that turn into a professional career?
I got into full sports mode after graduating from high school in 2020. That's when the decision was made to take a year off from my studies and try out the professional regime. However, severe restrictions soon came due to the coronavirus pandemic, and my plans fell apart with them. Although we managed to create a training bubble in Zlín, the months were very uncertain.
What's the hardest thing about triathlon?
It's concentration, discipline and, last but not least, logistics. Triathlon is an honest sport; you have to combine three events during training. It's actually a bit of a balance because once you focus on one part, it soon shows in the other two.
But now you are pursuing your dream of studying at UPCE.
That's right. At a certain level, it became difficult for me in sports. I believe that it's good to let off steam elsewhere occasionally, so I decided to return to transport, and the first step was to apply to the University of Pardubice. Because of the international competitions, I chose to study as a distance student. Still, it's great. Every time I come to the faculty, I feel grateful to be here and learn so many new things. But this year wasn't enough, and I longed for some practical experience. So, I started working as an engine driver.
How do you combine triathlon and work now?
It's all getting settled, as I'm still in my practical training at work. It's not easy, but it's the way I chose to do it, so I'm trying to work hard.
So, is it education in the morning and training in the afternoon?
That's right. I still have races to do, so I try to move daily so as not to be a complete loser.
Even though you eased up on the gas, you improved your personal best in Italy at the World Cup race. What do you attribute that to?
The mind is powerful, and I think the mental pressure has decreased a lot lately. The tension has gone out of me. I didn't feel well among the pros, but in Italy, I raced as a railwayman from Olomouc (laughs). And there was also a promise to my coach that I would prepare honestly.
This season already counts toward qualification for the Olympics. Are you thinking about going there?
It's unimaginable for me. After this year's results, I may have been in a qualifying position, but to stay there means another year and a half of touring the top competitions around the world. I'll see what shape I'm in during spring, but I may just focus on the smaller races.
Have the Olympics ever been a dream of yours?
No. The value of the Olympics in society wasn’t so important to me for a long time. I was more in awe of its rich history. It wasn't until it became about me that I learned how the qualification system worked and what it entailed.
Triathlon has allowed you to travel and explore new places. Do you hope to do the same with trains?
Triathlon has taken me to beautiful, sometimes exotic places. But as a novice driver, I will have to be satisfied with the reach of local trains, especially in Moravia. That has its charm, and from the driver's seat, it's a different scene every time.
Do you have a dream railway you would like to ride as a driver?
As a "locoman", I would like to reach my hometown Vsetín one day. My favourite tracks include the one to Kouty nad Desnou or the corridor along the Tichá Orlice.
What have you already learned, and what is still waiting for you as an aspiring driver?
I often hear that it's like driving school or even more straightforward. You know where you're going and don't have to turn (laughs). But it's not like that; first, there is this huge responsibility. You have maybe 500 people behind you, and you must get them to their destination safely, so the training is comprehensive. It starts with shifts on the shop floor, where we learn how everything works and how to fix what. Now we have a course in Česká Třebová, where we get to know about traffic regulations, for example. That is followed by several weeks of active driving training. The whole course takes several months, and we have to take a test after each part. There are also exams at the end, and only after we have passed them successfully will we be allowed to get on the track itself.
Triathlete Radim Grebík is also involved in the UNIS (UNIversity Sport) scholarship programme. With this project, the University of Pardubice supports students with exceptional sports ability. The aim is to provide student-athletes with conditions that will help them combine sports training with their studies and to raise awareness o
