Czech Woman Sets 2 World Records at Lumberjack Games

A Czech woman just rewrote the record books at one of the world's most unusual sporting competitions, and her story reveals how women are transforming timber sports.

Karolina Urbanova broke two world records at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin. The 24-year-old athlete chopped through an 11-inch white pine log in just 21.28 seconds in the Underhand Chop event, crushing the previous record of 24.26 seconds.

She wasn't done. Urbanova also set a new women's record in the Standing Block competition, felling a vertical log segment in 19.38 seconds.

Her journey to championship glory started in unexpected fashion. Growing up in a small Czech village, Urbanova was talent-scouted along with her mother and sister by someone working to boost female participation in European timber sports.

The three women began practicing in a barn, learning to split logs with different axes. Now Urbanova competes against 40 other Lumberjills at events like Hayward, which just completed its 66th year.

Why This Inspires

Urbanova's success highlights how women are carving out space in a sport where they've been largely excluded. The Standing Block event, now one of the signature competitions, was only added for women in 2022.

Women's events were previously limited mostly to logrolling, the famous feat of maintaining balance while running on a floating log. Now female athletes compete in events requiring explosive strength, precise dexterity for speed trunk-climbing, and incredible balance.

"I'm still growing and still learning, but now the level of the girls is really high," Urbanova told the BBC. "I just feel pretty proud of myself."

The sport demands serious athleticism, even if prize money remains limited and rarely covers travel expenses. For Urbanova, competing around the world at timber sports championships has become one of her life's highlights.

Her record-breaking performance proves that when women get the opportunity to compete, they don't just participate—they excel and inspire the next generation to do even better.