Czech Tennis Star Wins 2 Olympic Golds, Eyes Third in LA

A stuffed red mascot dangles from Kateřina Siniaková's tennis bag wherever she travels, a soft reminder of her golden moment in Paris.

The Czech tennis star has turned Olympic appearances into a winning streak. She claimed gold in women's doubles at Tokyo 2020, then returned to the podium three years later with mixed doubles gold at Paris 2024 alongside Tomáš Macháč.

Now ranked number one in women's doubles, the 30-year-old keeps her golden Phryge mascot in her bedroom and travels with the regular red version. She's still hunting for Tokyo's Miraitowa mascot to complete the collection, but her real goal is adding a third gold medal in Los Angeles.

Siniaková's success comes from rediscovering what made her fall in love with doubles in the first place. After winning seven Grand Slam titles with longtime partner Barbora Krejčíková, she teamed up with American Taylor Townsend in 2024.

The partnership works because they prioritize fun. The duo wears matching hair bows and accessories on court, and Townsend designs their custom kits while they rack up wins.

"I prefer to have fun, and if we do that, I think we are even playing better," Siniaková told Olympics.com. Together, they've claimed three Grand Slam titles and sit atop the world rankings, treating pressure as just another reason to enjoy themselves.

Why This Inspires

Siniaková represents something special about Czech tennis. Despite coming from a nation of just 11 million people, Czech women have won three of the last four Wimbledon singles titles, and the country keeps producing world-class players.

She credits the Czech tennis tradition for inspiring young players to dream big. Raised by a boxer father with a tennis-playing brother, she grew up in an athletic family in Hradec Králové that valued sports above all.

Her athletic interests extend beyond tennis. An avid skier, she rarely gets mountain time anymore because her vacation windows usually send her toward beaches and warm weather instead.

That sun-seeking preference will serve her well if she makes the LA 2028 team, where the tennis venue in Carson sits just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The competition for roster spots will be fierce, with former partner Krejčíková, Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková, and several rising stars under 21 all vying for Olympic berths.

But Siniaková has proven she performs when it matters most, and she's already visualizing that third gold medal joining the others in her collection.