Neumannová named Czech athlete of the year - International Herald Tribune PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Kateřina Neumannová, who won the women's 30-kilometer cross-country race at the Turin Olympics, was chosen as the Czech Republic's athlete of the year for 2006 on Sunday in a poll of sports journalists.

New York Rangers forward Jaromír Jágr, who won the award in 2005, was second. Lukáš Bauer, who took silver in the 15-kilometer cross-country race in Turin, was third.

Martina Navratilová, who defected from her Czech homeland in 1975 and became a U.S. citizen in 1981, was named a Czech sports legend on Sunday.

Sports personalities are incredibly important to the consciousness of nation. Even after years or even decades after retirement they still command attention of the media. These four names will probably live on for quite a while even though three out of the four are over 30.