Definitive confirmation came only after the April 30 ranking was published, but now there were no more points tournaments, so you were confident that you should be among the 16 qualified pairs?
We thought there was nothing that could go wrong. Only if a higher force intervened, but we had that position confirmed.
You fought for the Tokyo Games as a singles player, what made you start specializing in doubles?
Throughout my life, I was closer to a double, which is also due to my height. But there wasn’t much to play with in the Czech Republic, so I focused on singles. And then, coincidentally, I talked about doubles with Ondra, who was not advised by the doctors to continue playing singles, and I immediately jumped at the chance. I also wanted some game and training change and according to the results it was the right move. Although it is a bit funny that I failed to qualify for the Olympics in singles, where there are more places, and now I can in doubles.
At the same time, your teammate Ondřej Král said that you did not set the start in Paris as a realistic goal. Was there really no desire for Olympic participation in the back of your mind?
She was, but I had my feet on the ground. We thought it was unrealistic, also because none of us had been there before. Even thanks to a lot of coincidences in the rankings, the chance appeared, so we thought we’d give it a try and go all in. We tried for half a year, the last three months were probably the most demanding in our careers, we went to death, but it was successful.
You also traveled almost all over the world at the end of the qualification.
From the end of January, we were in Indonesia and Thailand, then we played in Europe, then to Uganda, back to Germany and to Azerbaijan, where we won… In addition to England, Spain, Kazakhstan, always flights, time shifts. We needed seven results and a bit of luck. But the nicest thing was the feeling that it turned out well, because I don’t think there will be another chance like this for a long time.
How does such a tournament in Uganda look like organizationally?
Very bad. I was already there in a single, but we knew we had to give it everything. It was demanding in terms of organization and stress, but we were only at the hotel and in the lobby, we didn’t go anywhere else.
Photo: Ivana Roháčková
Adam Mendrek with his father Tomasz, badminton Olympians.
How did your father, whom you refer to, experience your Olympic mission?
Lots of. The home circle has closed, dad was in Barcelona, I will now be in Paris. But if I ever have a family, I probably wouldn’t want my children to take after me, because it’s mentally demanding. A month ago, the Pan American Games were played, where we needed a Mexican or Brazilian couple not to win to qualify. And I’m such a fool that I watched and tormented myself. The Brazilians were eliminated in the quarterfinals, the Mexicans in the semifinals. Relief came and the next day we met dad and talked for an hour about how nice it was. He didn’t think it would work either, so I try to enjoy it with my family too, because sometimes you forget to enjoy sports.
In addition to your pair, singles players Jan Louda and Tereza Švábíková also qualified for Paris, Czech badminton does not remember such a participation. What do you attribute this to?
It is a huge merit (Spanish coach) Oscar Martínez, who has been working intensively with us for two and a half years, the union created the conditions for us in Pilsen and this is the result.
You spent five years improving in Wipperfeld, Germany, but now you have said goodbye to the badminton Bundesliga.
It’s a great team, a professional competition, but I already wanted to go back to my roots and play next year in Brno, where it all started. Also because of the fans, I have ties there.
Photo: Sven Heine
Adam Mendrek (back) with his doubles partner Ondřej Král.
However, this probably does not mean that you would slowly end your career at the age of 28.
No, I just want to return to the Czech Republic. We’ll see what comes after the Olympics, after all, I don’t know where else it can be pushed. After all, we train doubles here with two singles, we are the only couple in the qualified sixteen that does not have doubles sparring. Asians have like nine couples and they can wash it together every day.
Do personal reasons also play a role in returning home? You got engaged to your girlfriend Eva last year…
Personal life is another matter. Sport is wonderful, but life is not all about it. Living together, getting married, that’s why I want to be in the Czech Republic more so that the relationship continues to progress. There must always be harmony in personal and sports life.
Tags: family circle closed son writing history father thought unrealistic Mendrek doesnt hide
