Nina Hejčíková

Rising Sprint and Hurdles Star from Slovakia

Nina Hejčíková is an accomplished Slovak track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter hurdles, 100 meters, and 200 meters. Representing AK ŠK UMB Banská Bystrica and competing for Slovakia at international events, Hejčíková has established herself as one of the country’s most promising young athletes in sprint and hurdles disciplines.

Major Accomplishments

European Youth Olympic Festival 2025 – Bronze Medal

Hejčíková achieved her breakthrough performance at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje, North Macedonia. Competing in extreme heat with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, she won the bronze medal in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.35 seconds in the final. She had qualified for the final by winning her heat with a personal record time of 13.27 seconds, demonstrating remarkable consistency under pressure.

Following her medal-winning performance, Hejčíková reflected on the achievement: “I’m glad I didn’t fall over the hurdles, that I finished and have a medal. It turned out great. I don’t remember much from the race. I tried to run as fast as possible. Despite the great heat, I ran very well.”

The bronze medal marked the first athletics medal for the Slovak delegation at EYOF 2025 and continued Slovakia’s tradition of hurdles excellence at youth international competitions. Her performance also symbolically followed in the footsteps of other Slovak hurdles medalists at previous EYOF editions.

2025 Season Highlights

Throughout the 2025 season, Hejčíková demonstrated consistent excellence across multiple events and competitions:

100-Meter Hurdles Dominance

• Personal Record: 13.27 seconds (EYOF Skopje, heat performance)
• Won multiple national and regional championships in the 100m hurdles
• Consistently clocked times in the 13.3-13.8 second range throughout the season
• Dominated the Youth Dorastencov (U18) category in Slovakia

Sprint Excellence

• 100 Meters: Personal best of 11.69 seconds (wind-aided +3.0 m/s) in June 2025
• 200 Meters: Personal best of 23.82 seconds (wind-aided +2.9 m/s) at international U18 competition in Brno
• Consistently competitive in the 12.0-12.4 second range in the 100m under legal wind conditions
• Regular performances in the 23.9-25.6 second range in the 200m

Indoor Season Success

• 60 Meters: 7.73 seconds (Slovak U18 Indoor Championships)
• 60-Meter Hurdles: 8.57 seconds (Slovak U18 Indoor Championships)
• Won multiple indoor titles at regional and national championships

International Competition Experience

Multi-Nation U18 Competitions

Hejčíková represented Slovakia at the U18 international meet in Brno, Czech Republic (June 2025), competing against athletes from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and Slovakia. She won both the 200 meters and 100-meter hurdles, showcasing her versatility across sprint disciplines.

Czech Republic Team Competitions

Competing for Atletický klub Olomouc in Czech team championships, Hejčíková demonstrated her ability to excel in cross-border competition, winning multiple events and contributing significantly to team success.

National Championships and League Dominance

Slovak National Championships

• 2025 Slovak U18 Championships: Multiple gold medals across hurdles and sprint events
• 2025 Slovak Junior Championships: Strong performances in the U20 age category
• Consistent podium finishes at regional championships throughout Central Slovakia

Dorastencov Liga (Youth League)

Hejčíková dominated the 2025 Dorastencov Liga circuit, winning the 100-meter hurdles and placing first or second in sprint events at virtually every round of competition. Her performances helped AK ŠK UMB Banská Bystrica achieve strong team results throughout the season.

Relay Success

As a key member of relay teams, Hejčíková contributed to multiple victories:

• 4×100-meter relay: 47.58 seconds (Slovak Championships)
• Sprint medley relay (1-2-3-4 format): 2:13.02 (Slovak Championships)
• Competed in mixed relay events at both national and international competitions

Technical Versatility

Multi-Event Capability

While specializing in hurdles and sprints, Hejčíková has demonstrated ability across multiple disciplines:

• High Jump: 1.52 meters
• Long Jump: 5.38 meters (with legal wind conditions)
• Shot Put (3kg): 10.54 meters
• Javelin (500g): 28.96 meters

This versatility showcases her overall athletic ability and well-rounded development as a track and field athlete.

Event Specialization

Hejčíková’s primary events include:

• 100-meter hurdles (76.2cm height)
• 60-meter hurdles (indoor)
• 100 meters
• 200 meters
• 4×100-meter relay
• Sprint medley relay

Training and Club Affiliation

AK ŠK UMB Banská Bystrica

Hejčíková trains with AK ŠK UMB Banská Bystrica, one of Slovakia’s premier athletics clubs based in Banská Bystrica, a city in central Slovakia with a strong athletics tradition. The club, affiliated with Matej Bel University (Univerzita Mateja Bela), provides high-level coaching and training facilities for developing athletes.

The club’s comprehensive program has enabled Hejčíková to compete successfully at both national and international levels while balancing her athletic development with her education.

Dual Representation

In addition to representing her home club in Slovakia, Hejčíková has also competed for Atletický klub Olomouc in the Czech Republic during the 2025 season, participating in Czech regional championships and demonstrating the cross-border nature of Central European athletics development.

Competitive Progression

Hejčíková’s 2025 season demonstrated remarkable consistency and progressive improvement:

• January-February: Indoor season foundation with strong performances at regional meets
• April-June: Peak preparation with multiple championship titles
• July: International breakthrough at EYOF with bronze medal
• September: Continued success in Czech Republic team championships

Her ability to maintain high performance levels throughout the extended season showcases both her physical conditioning and mental resilience.

Impact on Slovak Athletics

As a member of Slovakia’s emerging generation of sprint and hurdles athletes, Hejčíková contributes to a proud tradition of Slovak excellence in these disciplines. Her success at EYOF 2025 adds to Slovakia’s growing medal collection in youth athletics and provides inspiration for younger athletes in the sport.

Her performances in the 100-meter hurdles place her among Slovakia’s top youth athletes in the event, continuing the country’s strong tradition in technical sprint events that has produced world-class hurdlers at the senior level.

Future Prospects

At the U18/U20 level, Hejčíková has demonstrated the technical proficiency, speed, and competitive mentality necessary for continued progression in track and field. Her personal bests in both hurdles and sprints suggest significant potential for improvement as she continues her athletic development and transitions toward senior-level competition.

Her EYOF bronze medal and consistent domestic dominance position her well for future international competitions, including potential participation in European U20 Championships, World U20 Championships, and eventually senior-level international meets.

Go Nina!