Karolina (Kaja) Dusilova is a Czech biathlete who was born in Jablonec nad Nisou on the 1st of August 2000. She started biathlon in 2013 has competed on the IBU Cup as well as the IBU Junior Cup. She has represented the Czech Republic at the Youth and Junior World Championships and last season achieved her best result so far finishing 6th in the sprint at the Junior Open European Championships in Hochfilzen.

Follow Karolina on Twitter: @kajadus
and instagram: kaja_dusilova

Why did you become a biathlete?

I saw biathlon on TV when I was 12-years-old when I was sick, I had a fever(39-40degrees), but when biathlon was on TV it was like I was healthy. It was love at first sight. And I knew that’s exactly what I wanted to do.

How do you assess last season? What was good and what was bad?

Last season was very weird for me. For 2 years I had many problems with my health and I returned after one year’s long pause, when I couldn’t do anything. Last spring was a new strart. Training was good, but in August I had an injury during one training. I got a plaster cast on my leg and I couldn’t train. In September I had the graduation from the Gymnasium (high school) so this two months were very hard for my psyche. So the start of the winter season was very bad, and after the second IBU J.C. I thought I was done. But after Christmas I felt better and I qualified for the JWCH in Lenzerheide. And good results came in Italy (Martell) on the IBU cup, where I was 21st and I got my first points. The next competion was in Arber, where I got my first points in the IBU J.C. And the best result came in Hochfilzen, where I was 6th place in the sprint. But after came the bad news with COVID-19 and we had to go home.

What was your best or favourite race from last season and why?

Certainly in Martell on the IBU CUP. I was there for the first time this season and I really like this place. There are good tracks, hard hills and hard downhills and a good shooting range and beautiful mountains. And there was my break in results when I got my first points.

What are your plans for summer training? Has the corona virus affected the plans or the way you train?

I have 3 weeks per month together with the team. So when we spend time together, we have to be careful. We use disinfectant and don’t go to public places. And we train only in the Czech Republic, we don’t go abroad yet.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My biggest problem is my head. I speculate during the training about technique on skis, about me and my problems in normal life, why is this squirrel watching me etc. And I don’t concentrate and I have bad shooting or somwhere fall on skis or bike or I stumble into a tree. It’s very hard to train me, I think. Because I’m not communicative but my feelings show on my face (so seeing me, often isn’t nice!) 😃, and when some problem comes (with health or some misunderstanding) it’s worse. I don’t speak for example for 3 days. And often I want to train more and it’s difficult to stop me.

But on the other side I’m very competitive, purposeful, courageous, and know what I want to do. When I have support from trainers and people around me, I can do big things. So if I stay healthy and stop thinking about everything it will be good and top results will come.

What are your goals for this season?

I want more stability in results during the season, top 10 on JWCH and to be a member of the relay on JWCH and JEWCH.

Who is your roommate on tour and do they have any bad habits (eg.snoring) or good habits (eg.tidy)?

I’m very adaptable but I’m often with Terka Vinklárková and Klárka Polednová or I’m alone. But I haven’t got problem to be with anybody in the room. And I don’t know 😄 if i have some good habits. Maybe I’m quiet but often I speak in my sleep.

You are having a dinner party with 3 other biathletes. Who would you invite and why? What’s on the menu?

I would invite Terka Vinklárková, because she is my soulmate, she plays beautifully on guitar and she is my sun, with her I have a better day 😊. The second is Klarka Polednová, she is my best friend with Terka and she is a very good dancer, she has a good choice of songs and with her there will be a party, a really big party 😃. And the last one will be Péťa Suchá, because she is a good singer, she plays guitar too and she is really a party girl. We will have meat, vegetable, etc. The best could be some grill party 😄!

What are your hobbies away from biathlon?

Certainly snowboarding during the winter but because we spend so much time on races I haven’t got time for it. But when I can, I am somewhere on a downhill. During the summer I like to go to by bike. I love adrenaline sports, I haven’t got any fear so it’s ideal for me. And I really like to learn, I like finding new information and learning it.

Do you have a favourite biathlon track? Where is it and why?

Yes, three tracks are my top. In Martell, Lenzerheide and Obertilliach. Maybe because there are the best views of mountains 😄.

Who is your favourite biathlete (past or present) and why?

I don’t know. Every athlete is unique. And I can never have the same results like Gabina Koukalova or someone like her. I find the best things what they do and things which are good for me and I try them. When it functions, I continue with it. When it isn’t for me I find something new.

Does your rifle have a name?

No, I tried it. But we aren’t friends. So when I shoot bad, I put it in the corner of the room and we don’t speak together.

Describe yourself in three words.

Stubborn, quiet, tough 😄.

Quick fire choices:
Choose one:
skiing or shooting? Both of them, that’s why I do biathlon 😄.
prone or standing? Certainly standing!
uphill or downhill? Downhill, of course 😎.
mixed relay or women’s relay? Women’s relay. With my team girls.
morning or night? Beautiful sunny morning.
sun or snow? Sunny winter day. It’s the best skiing in shorts, sunglasses and t-shirt.
roller skiing or cycling? It’s difficult. Maybe it’s the same.😊
alcohol or chocolate? Neither. 😁 A big steak please!

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