Šampión

The 1973 World Figure Skating Championships in Bratislava were an event of extraordinary importance for communist Czechoslovakia. Today we know who won that time: Ondrej Nepela, a phenomenal athlete whose name was known all over the world. The film CHAMPION is an intense personal drama of a young man who, after years of representing his homeland, desires only one thing – to leave socialist Czechoslovakia and perform in the popular revue Holiday on Ice. It is at this vulnerable moment that the regime increases the pressure on him. During the final preparations for the championship, Ondrej fights not only with the regime, but above all with himself. Shortly before the decisive race, he is paralyzed by fear and Hilda Múdra must find a way to get him back on his feet. The film captures the decisive moments and suggests why the world champion is not celebrating in the grainy footage from Bratislava, even though he has just achieved the triumph of his life. The upcoming feature film CHAMPION will be released in cinemas early next year and will be released in an exceptionally strong social and sporting context. The year of its premiere will be marked by the return of world figure skating to the Czech Republic - the World Figure Skating Championships will return to Prague in 2026 after 33 years.