1. Overview
Michal Krčmář (Michal Krčmářˈmɪxal ˈkrtʃmaːrCzech; born 23 January 1991) is a Czech biathlete. He is an Olympic silver medalist, having achieved this feat in the sprint event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. His career also includes a silver medal in the junior men's relay at the 2012 Biathlon Junior World Championships and multiple medals at the Biathlon World Championships. Krčmář has been a consistent competitor on the Biathlon World Cup circuit since the 2013-14 season, participating in numerous World Cups, ten World Championships, and three Olympic Games.
2. Early Life and Background
Michal Krčmář's early life was influenced by a family connection to biathlon, which set the stage for his own athletic pursuits and development within the sport.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Michal Krčmář was born on 23 January 1991. His father, Daniel Krčmář, was also a biathlete who competed at the Olympic level, representing Slovakia in biathlon at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. This family background provided an early foundation and inspiration for Michal's career in the sport.
2.2. Junior Career
Krčmář began his biathlon career in the junior ranks, where he quickly demonstrated his potential. A significant early achievement was earning a silver medal as part of the junior men's relay team at the Biathlon Junior World Championships 2012. This performance marked him as a promising talent in the sport.
3. Career
Michal Krčmář's professional biathlon career spans over a decade, characterized by consistent participation in major international competitions and a steady progression in performance.
3.1. Biathlon World Cup
Krčmář has been a regular presence on the Biathlon World Cup circuit since the 2013-14 season, accumulating over 300 World Cup starts throughout his career.
The 2022-23 season marked Krčmář's best performance to date. He finished 13th in the overall standings, achieving 9th place in the individual, sprint, and mass start standings, and 14th in the pursuit standings. During this season, he secured notable individual results, including a 5th place in the sprint at Pokljuka, 8th in the individual at Ruhpolding, 4th in the mass start at Östersund, and top-10 finishes in Oslo (10th in sprint, 9th in pursuit). The Czech team also saw significant success during this period, placing 6th in the Nations Cup, their best result since the 2015-16 season.
In August 2023, Krčmář experienced a viral infection that temporarily interrupted his training. Despite this setback, he competed in the 2023-24 season, achieving a top-10 result with an 8th place in the mass start at Lenzerheide. However, inconsistent results early in the second trimester and ongoing health issues led him to withdraw from the World Cup event in Antholz to prioritize preparation for the World Championships. He concluded the 2023-24 season ranked 28th in the overall World Cup standings.
3.2. Major Achievements
Michal Krčmář has achieved significant milestones in his career at the highest levels of biathlon. His most notable accomplishment is an Olympic silver medal in the sprint event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. He has also earned two medals at the Biathlon World Championships: a bronze medal in the mixed relay at the Biathlon World Championships 2020 in Antholz-Anterselva and a silver medal in the mixed relay at the Biathlon World Championships 2025 in Lenzerheide. At the 2025 World Championships, he anchored the Czech mixed relay team, successfully overtaking Justus Strelow on the final lap to secure the silver medal. He has also achieved four top-10 individual results in the individual event at the World Championships, including an 8th place finish at the 2025 championships.
4. Biathlon Results
This section details Michal Krčmář's performance in major international biathlon competitions, including the Olympic Games and World Championships.
4.1. Olympic Games
Krčmář has participated in three Olympic Games, earning one silver medal.
| Event | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass start | Relay | Mixed relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Sochi | 60th | - | - | - | 11th | - |
| 2018 Pyeongchang | 7th | Silver | 30th | 26th | 7th | 8th |
| 2022 Beijing | 59th | 16th | 34th | 21st | 19th | 12th |
4.2. World Championships
Krčmář has competed in ten Biathlon World Championships, securing two medals (one silver, one bronze).
| Event | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass start | Relay | Mixed relay | Single mixed relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Nové Město | - | - | - | - | 6th | - | |
| 2015 Kontiolahti | - | 59th | 47th | - | 6th | - | |
| 2016 Oslo Holmenkollen | 5th | 24th | 22nd | 22nd | 5th | 6th | |
| 2017 Hochfilzen | 6th | 61st | - | 22nd | 10th | 7th | |
| 2019 Östersund | 23rd | 44th | 25th | 28th | 4th | 6th | - |
| 2020 Antholz-Anterselva | 23rd | 39th | 27th | - | 13th | Bronze | 14th |
| 2021 Pokljuka | 26th | 11th | 21st | 25th | 13th | 11th | |
| 2023 Oberhof | 8th | 14th | 19th | 27th | 4th | 5th | 14th |
| 2024 Nové Město | 26th | 19th | 18th | 24th | 7th | 14th | - |
| 2025 Lenzerheide | 8th | 23rd | 23rd | 23rd | 6th | Silver | - |
During Olympic seasons, World Championship competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program.
5. Personal Life
Beyond his demanding career as a biathlete, Michal Krčmář maintains a personal life that includes his family and various interests outside of sports.
5.1. Family
Michal Krčmář is in a long-term relationship with his partner, Ramona. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Viktor, in April 2022. In March 2024, they celebrated the birth of their second child, a daughter named Tamara.
5.2. Interests
Outside of biathlon, Krčmář is an avid follower of several other sports. He enjoys watching football, ice hockey, and Formula One. He is a known supporter of the Czech football club AC Sparta Praha.
6. Assessment and Impact
Michal Krčmář's career has been marked by consistent performance and significant contributions, both individually and as a key member of the Czech national biathlon team.
6.1. Career Performance Analysis
Krčmář's career performance has shown a trend of steady improvement and consistency, particularly highlighted by his 2022-23 season, which was his best to date. His ability to consistently finish within the top 15 in overall World Cup standings and achieve multiple top-10 individual results across various disciplines, including sprint, individual, pursuit, and mass start, demonstrates his versatility and enduring competitiveness. His Olympic silver medal and multiple World Championship medals underscore his capacity to perform under pressure at the highest level of the sport. Despite occasional health setbacks, Krčmář has shown resilience in maintaining a high level of performance.
6.2. Team Contribution
Michal Krčmář plays a crucial role within the Czech national biathlon team. His consistent individual results contribute significantly to the team's overall standing in the Nations Cup, as evidenced by the Czech team's 6th place finish in the 2022-23 season, their best in years. Furthermore, his strong performances in relay events, particularly his anchoring role in securing the silver medal in the mixed relay at the 2025 World Championships and the bronze medal at the 2020 World Championships, highlight his importance as a reliable and high-performing team member. His leadership and experience are valuable assets to the Czech biathlon program.