Slovak President Andrej Kiska opened the Slovak hospitality house in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. Thus, the Slovak team has everything ready for the 2016 Summer Olympics, which commence on Friday. Two hours later, Kiska took part in the opening of the Czech hospitality house. "As Czechoslovakia, we took part in 16 Olympic Games and won 49 gold medals together," said the Slovak president remembering the Czech-Slovak's past coexistence.
The president of the Slovak Olympic Committee František Chmelár revealed that he wishes for five medals including two golds. Given that 4 years ago in London Slovaks did not manage to win any gold medals, Chmelár's hopes are realistic. "Of course, not everything has to meet our expectations. We could win many medals or not a single one, it depends on many factors, as the London Olympics showed us," stated Chmelár. His biggest bet is on the race walker Matej Tóth and the Slovak canoers in the K4 discipline. Altogether, 51 athletes will represent Slovakia in Rio.
Slovakia has participated in five Summer Olympics since its first appearance in Atlanta 1996. Altogether, Slovak athletes have collected 24 medals - 7 golds, 9 silvers and 8 bronze medals. Michal Martikán collected 5 of them himself, thus being the most successful Slovak athlete at the Olympics in the era of independent Slovakia.
