Jan Mazoch, who was a special guest of this year's Summer Grand Prix events in Zakopane, appeared at a press conference last Friday to speak in length about his life and rehabilitation process after his terrible accident in January this year. The 22-year-old Czech decided to travel to Poland to express his gratitude towards Polish fans of ski jumping, who had been supporting him throughout the past months when he was facing his biggest ordeal in life.
Joining Mazoch at the press conference was his grandfather, the former ski-star and an Olympic medalist from Grenoble - Jiri Raska, along with Jan Baier - Mazoch's manager.
Asked about his current health-condition, Jan Mazoch provided a simple answer: 'I really don't have any problems now. I've already started some basic physical and endurance trainings, as well as simple downhill skiing and I hope to make my first jump after the accident as soon as possible.'
Mazoch pronounced himself ready to come back to competitive ski jumping, adding however that he was wisely advised to prepare psychologically beforehand and therefore he still wants to take some time and not rush too quickly towards entering ski jumping events.
Jiri Raska shared his own stories with the press, stating that in the course of his career he faced many serious injuries, mostly connected with his knees and feet, and so he never, not even for a second, thought about discouraging his grandson from coming back to sports or doubted Jan's ability to fully recover from acquired injuries.
The athlete, who is now a father of a 2-month-old baby girl, admitted he has now a totally different view on and of life and that the accident along with fatherhood helped him enter real adult world and take responsibility for own actions. He also stated that in any ways, he doesn't blame the organizers or the jury of the fatal World Cup event in Zakopane last January for putting his life at stake:
'I don't think it's anybody's fault. It was just an accident. Something that could happen to any ski jumper. I truly believe that there are people out there at the hill, and they simply know their job. There're but few accidents at the hills. I don't think ski jumping is too dangerous a sport. I just had bad luck.' - Mazoch finished.