[Archive 2012-01-21] First Czech Winter Olympics champion Jiří Raška dies at age 70
Historical Wikinews report from 2012-01-21. Jiří Raška, one of former Czechoslovakia's most popular athletes in the 1960s and 1970s, died in Nový Jičín at age 70. He won
Historical archive — originally published 2012-01-21. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.
Jiří Raška, one of former Czechoslovakia's most popular athletes in the 1960s and 1970s, died in Nový Jičín at age 70. He won the 1968 Winter Olympics normal hill ski jumping competition.
Raška was a national hero after his win and after he added another, silver medal in the large hill competition in Grenoble. Writer Ota Pavel helped popularizing him with his book The Tale of Raška. Raška also won the Four Hills Tournament and was a bronze medalist in 1972 ski flying world championships.
After ending his career in 1976, Raška worked as a coach. He opposed the communist regime, signing the 2000 Words appeal. In 2011 Czech Republic President Václav Klaus awarded him the Medal of Merit. He was named Czech Skier of the Century in 2003.
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