On Friday, February 28, 2025, the "Aviation Athlete of the Year 2024" Gala Evening took place, during which the best aviation athletes in all of Czech aviation over the past year were ceremonially announced in a live television broadcast (broadcast from 20:15 p.m. on ČT Sport).
Of the ten candidates nominated for the poll by three key organizations covering aviation sports: the Aeroclub of the Czech Republic, the Amateur Aviation Association of the Czech Republic, and the Aircraft Modelers' Club of the Modelers' Association of the Czech Republic, the prestigious award was won by the glider acrobat and junior world champion in the Advanced category from LA 2024 World Championships, Marek Veselý (AeČR).
The award was received from the hands of the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, by the winner (currently on an internship in Australia) together with his mother and sister.
Second place went to the Standard class sailing team of Jan Pavlík, Miloslav Cink and Lukáš Kříž (AeČR). Jan Pavlík received the award from the hands of the Spanish Crown Prince Alvaro Jaime De Orleans Bourbon.
Third place in the poll went to Marek Velát (LAA ČR), a pilot of ultralights and GA sport aircraft. He received the award from Orlen's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mariusz Wnuk, and General Director of Air Traffic Management, Ing. Jan Klas.
You can read more in the March issue of Pilot LAA ČR magazine.