Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Czech former Olympic champion Stepanka Hilgertova said here Friday that she received good training from her husband who was also a good slalom athlete.

    "My husband is my good coach," Hilgertova told Xinhua proudly in the Shunyi Olympic Canoeing/Kayaking Park after her one-hour training Friday afternoon.

    Lubos Hilgert, her coach and husband, now works as a coach in a local club, providing technical guidance to young people including their 20-year-old son.

    "He was a good athlete and participated in several big competitions including Olympics," she said.

    On the quality of her training in the Beijing water course, the 40-year-old athlete said: "It's not possible to make plans for slalom sports. I need good luck."

    "The years between 25 to 35 are the best age for slalom athletes. I am older. But I can try again although it is a challenge to me," she added.

    As for the water course in Shunyi, she said that it was quite hard and she needed a lot of training.

    "It's hard. Water changes in a lot of places," the mother athlete said.

    Hilgertova started paddling at the age of 12 but did not train hard at that time. She began serious training at around 20.

    "At that time, we trained two or three times a week. We had some competitions with other children, but not so serious. I started serious training at around 20 and then I got some titles," Hilgertova said.

    She also said that her son had participated in the national and European championships.

    "He got the second and third places in the junior championships. At present, he is competing in the category of under 23," the mother said outside the boathouse in the park.

    On her plan of retirement, she smiled and just said: "Maybe this winter, but I'm not sure."

    Hilgertova claimed the K1 titles in both Atlanta and Sydney Olympics in 1996 and 2000, but failed in her title defense in Athens. This time in Beijing, she is regarded as a strong challenger to defending champion Elena Kaliska from Slovakia.