Teen Swimmer Breaks 33-Year Record, Nominated for Top Award

An 18-year-old from Czechia just made history in the pool and is now rubbing shoulders with Olympic legends.

David Kratochvil, a vision-impaired swimmer, became the first Para athlete from his country ever nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards. He's heading to Madrid this month to join an elite group that includes only two other Czech athletes in history: tennis player Marketa Vondrousova and Olympic champion Ester Ledecka.

"It is an incredible surprise for me," Kratochvil said. "I never expected that this nomination could ever happen."

The nomination came after a jaw-dropping season at the Singapore 2025 World Para Swimming Championships. Kratochvil medaled in every single event he entered, walking away with four golds, one silver, and two bronze medals.

But one moment stood above the rest. He smashed the 400-meter freestyle S11 world record, a mark that had held strong for 33 years.

The young athlete also claimed world titles in the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, plus the 100m butterfly. His dominance in the pool happened while he balanced the pressures of turning 18 and preparing for university entrance exams.

"School is pretty easy now, but we'll see what the entrance exams are like," he joked in a recent interview. He's hoping to study sports psychology, drawing on his own experiences as an athlete.

The Ripple Effect

Kratochvil's success is creating waves far beyond his own lane. Back home, he's already won Best Para Athlete of the Year from the Czech Paralympic Committee for three consecutive years.

His presence on the global stage is helping change perceptions about Para sport. "It is a sport like any other, but here you can really see the effort and dedication that athletes put into their performances," he explained.

People now recognize him on the street and ask for photos. But he stays grounded, saying he hopes he hasn't changed and that he's simply become more social and comfortable around people.

"I am always happy when I can inspire someone or help motivate them to go after their goals," he said.

At the Madrid ceremony, Kratochvil is hoping to meet his hero: pole vault superstar Armand Duplantis, who's also nominated for a Laureus award. "His performances are on a completely different level and I really admire him," the swimmer said.

Before the big night, Kratochvil has his sights set on more competition. He'll swim in the Para Swimming World Series in Berlin this May, followed by the European Championships in Turkey in September.

A teenager who shattered records is now inspiring a nation to dream bigger.