“After training, I go and relax with spreadsheets,” says our colleague, biathlete Lucie Charvátová

Lucie Charvátová joined the NEWTON University community originally as a lecturer in sports marketing. A few years later, she found herself at the heart of a major transformation of the finance team and made a move few would expect from a top-level biathlete. She took on a junior accounting role. It soon became clear that the analytical thinking, precision and discipline that had taken her to Olympic level work just as well in the world of finance. Before leaving for the Olympic Games in Milan, we asked Lucie how two seemingly different worlds connect. Sport and professional life.

Lucie, how did you actually get into biathlon?

I grew up in the mountains from an early age, first in Špindlerův Mlýn and later in Vrchlabí. Thanks to my parents, sport was a natural part of my life, but I found my way to biathlon later on. In Vrchlabí, I attended the Základní škola náměstí Míru with sports-focused classes, where, thanks to coach Aleš Suk, I began training at what you could call a professional level from a young age and systematically built my physical base. Until the age of twenty, I competed in cross-country skiing. Although I was among the top juniors in the Czech Republic, the global competition was on a completely different level. Biathlon is a sport where chance and luck play a certain role and nothing is decided at the starting line. That fascinated me, so I decided to try a few shooting sessions. In the same year, I made it into the biathlon national team and have been representing the Czech Republic in biathlon since 2013. At the same time, Czech biathlon began to achieve great success, so I never doubted that my decision was the right one.

And how did your path lead to NEWTON University?

Interestingly, that journey is also connected to the Olympics, specifically the 2018 Games. At that time, I was dealing with health issues and did not qualify for the Olympics. Instead, I met mental coach and psychologist Kamil Polák, who was teaching at NEWTON. He supported me with my mental preparation in sport for several years, until one day he called and asked whether I would like to teach Sports Marketing at NEWTON. It was a challenge I did not hesitate to accept. Three years ago, I also applied for an accounting position, as this field is close to me given my education. Although it is not common for athletes to work alongside intensive training and competition schedules, I found that with a responsible approach and understanding managers, it is possible. I was accepted into the newly formed internal finance team by Tomáš Vika, a fellow athlete who did not have the same opportunity to fulfil his Olympic dream. All the more, he understood my sporting mindset, placed his trust in me and I hope I have not let him down.

When did you first realise that finance and controlling were areas where you wanted to grow?

I always hesitated between sport and studying, until I realised that I could do both and decided to study at the Faculty of Economics. Analytical thinking and a sense of order in data have always been important to me, whether in planning training sessions, retrospective analysis, or organising my studies, which I often completed after the season. I like clarity, evidence-based conclusions and structure. Technical disciplines were never foreign to me either. At NEWTON, I confirmed that this field genuinely interests me and that there is always something to improve or analyse further.

In what ways is sporting discipline similar to professional discipline?

Sport brings many positives into everyday life. Athletes naturally develop discipline and strong work ethics, are flexible and constantly learning new things. Strategic thinking is something athletes apply in training, just like quick problem-solving and effective time management. Athletes are also resilient to stress and failure, competitive and motivated by new challenges. They understand that success does not come easily and that patience and perseverance are essential.

How do you mentally prepare for demanding professional performance?

I do not prepare mentally in any special way. My work perfectly balances two very different worlds, so after training I actually relax by sitting down at my computer and immersing myself in accounting or spreadsheets, which allows me to switch off from sport. I approached my university studies in a similar way. Sometimes the mind works, sometimes the body. That is the rhythm I follow. I enjoy being able to switch into a completely different environment and work on entirely different things with different people.

What helped you find your footing when you joined during a period of major change?

The beginning was not easy. I joined at a time when accounting was being transferred from one external firm to another while an internal team was being built at the same time. It was a period of chaos that we are still refining today. As if that were not enough, a change of information system followed. However, I was involved in that project from the very beginning, so I had a say in how it was set up from a financial perspective. I realised that building things from scratch is often easier than trying to understand how they worked before. In the end, everything moved in the right direction. The advantage now is that accounting is handled fully in-house, which allows for a much better understanding of processes and the strategic goals of NEWTON University.

Do you see any parallels between biathlon and controlling?

To be honest, I do not see direct parallels between biathlon and controlling. I view biathlon as a personal sporting experience that taught me discipline, perseverance and how to handle pressure. Controlling itself is primarily about analytical thinking, data and collaboration with people.

How do you perceive the difference between pressure in sport and pressure for accuracy in finance?

In sport, pressure is often immediate and emotional. You have to perform in the moment and you see the result straight away. In finance, pressure is more long-term and systematic, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, responsibility and careful control. Mistakes can happen and can be corrected. In biathlon, every missed shot matters and once it happens, it cannot be undone. Both types of pressure are different, but both require focus and the ability to stay calm.

What do you enjoy most about working with data and connecting systems?

I enjoy the outcome. I like it when data makes sense as a whole, when different systems are connected and numbers form a clear and understandable picture that supports decision-making. I enjoy finding connections and simplifying processes so that data truly serves practice. Current trends in digitalisation and optimisation of accounting systems have even become a hobby for me in my free time. My mum is an accountant and her desk is covered in paperwork. Thanks to her, I am motivated to do things differently, more efficiently, without paper and with results clearly visible in one table.

What do you find most challenging?

Sometimes, communication. Explaining, checking, reminding and more than once. I have always preferred to be independent and rely on myself. Now I am learning how to work more as part of a team, how to accept help or ask for advice. Presenting or leading training sessions are also new to me, so I am learning in that area as well.

How do you think about your professional path after the Olympics?

That is not an easy question. When I was younger, I never imagined that I would still be competing professionally at the age of 33. This season, however, shows me that age does not have to be a limiting factor. Good results this winter have made me consider how long I might continue in sport, as it has been my whole life so far and I genuinely enjoy the balance between sport and work. At the same time, I see great potential in how controlling and reporting at NEWTON University could be further developed, especially towards deeper financial analyses, better data integration and reports that genuinely support management decision-making.

What would you advise students who are considering a career in sport as well as beyond it?

Even though this choice may seem complicated at first, nothing is impossible. I am living proof of that. Athletes are naturally determined, goal-oriented and driven. When they set their minds on something, they go for it. The key is good time management and proactive communication with lecturers. Most importantly, do not leave things until the last minute and prepare for exams through continuous self-study. I would wish the path I am on for every athlete considering a dual career. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work at NEWTON University and smoothly prepare for the next stage of my life. The end of a sporting career can be psychologically challenging for many athletes and I am glad to be entering that phase with completed education and real work experience. I am convinced that if top-level athletes study at NEWTON University, the school’s leadership and lecturers will accommodate them and set individual study conditions so they can fully pursue both sport and education.

And finally, what would you like to say to colleagues and students from the NEWTON community who follow you and support you at the Olympics?

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who supports me and sends encouragement. I truly feel it, even though we mostly meet online. Please keep your fingers crossed for my races. I will do my best to represent not only the Czech Republic, but also NEWTON University. I am taking two weeks of leave, so I hope you will forgive my absence. And to all students, I would say this: go after your goals, even if they seem demanding. 

If you have ambition and the desire to work on yourself, do not give up just because the path is not easy. It is often the more challenging paths that prepare you best for the future.