Olympic star Ledecka emerges from shadow of rock star dad AFP
6 hrs ago
© Provided by Agence France-Presse (AFP) Czech Republic ski gold medallist Ester Ledecka belongs to celebrity family, as her father is a rock star and hit composer.
Snowboarder Ester Ledecka turned the world of alpine skiing on its head by winning Olympic gold in the super-G -- and yet the Czech is not even the most famous member of her family.
That distinction belongs to her father, rock star and hit composer Janek Ledecky.
But after blazing to victory on two skis at the weekend, Ledecky predicted his daughter would also become a household name in the Czech Republic.
"She'll be the darling of Czech fans," the proud dad gushed after Ester's astonishing win.
"There are no words to describe how proud I am. It's amazing and she deserves it because she's so honest and so devoted to sport. She loves it and she's a great girl, a great person."
Ledecky, whose rock opera based on Shakespeare's Hamlet has been performed in front of more than a million people worldwide, is even considering penning a song about his daughter's Olympic adventure.
"I'm an artist but her sporting genes come from her grandfather on her mother's side -- Jan Klapac, who was a famous ice hockey champion," he explained.
"My wife and I just tried to let our children find their own way of life, a way interesting to them."
Ester's brother Jonas was also on the Czech snowboard team as a junior but opted instead to pursue a career in art and is now a respected comic illustrator and painter.
"We're not pushy parents," said Ledecky. "It's the other way -- we're trying to take her away from training and from the slope."
He also revealed his daughter was an adrenaline junkie, who has to be dragged away from practice.
"Some days because she is able to die on the slopes," said Ledecky. "We have to hold her back -- that's the only problem we've ever had with Ester."
Ledecky added: "It was skiing before snowboarding for her at first. She started with skiing at two and when she was six she started snowboarding.
"Her brother Jonas has also designed her special ski and snowboard suits, creating a super hero alter-ego for her. We're mafia," joked Ledecky.
"Brother creates the suit, sister wins the race and I write the songs."
Poster Comment:
Another good looking blond Czech girl. I met one here who was visiting as an exchange student. She had high cheek bones and looked very Slavic.