Quote she believes in “Learn to love yourself and you will not need anyone else to be loved by”
Kateřina Kocurová is member of National Equestrian Vaulting Team Czech Republic. Her current position in the worldwide ranking is 20th and she finished 14th on world championship this summer in Bern.
Memorable sporting achievement Her performance at the 2022 CHIO Aachen in Germany. (Instagram profile, 26 Jun 2022)
Most influential person in career Her parents. (vaultingworld.com, 01 Aug 2022)
In 2012 at Youth Continental/Regional Championships Pezinok (SJ3 – Squad Junior 3*) Aquaris 5.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Kateřina Kocurová an exceptionally talented Czech Republic Equestrian Vaulting Team Member; here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
Where were you born and had your early education? Equestrian vaulting is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback. You came in competitive Equestrian vaulting at the age of twelve years and participated in the 2012 Youth Continental/Regional Championships Pezinok and stood fifth. This later propelled your career to the height where you have been a leading equestrian vaulting athlete, presently ranked 31st in the world. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Kateřina Kocurová:
I was born in small village Bolatice in north Czechia, elementary school I attended there and then I studied high school with focus on biology. I started vaulting in 2007 in small riding club Albertovec. My first European championship was in Brno 2008 with a team, my first international start in individuals was in 2012 and European championship was in 2015. Here you have a bit old information. Currently I am ranked 20th best on the world and I finished 14th on world championship this summer in Bern.
I was always lucky to be part of best squad in Czechia, so I could compete on the highest competitions; my individual career was mostly on the second track for me. But 2019 I started to feel I would like to shine also on my own. So I started to thinking about training abroad, unfortunately covid hit and I had to stop my plans a bit. Early in 2022 I found a good place in Germany (the highest ranked country in vaulting) where I could immediately start. That was a real game changer. It was a change I needed, in Czechia I was close to burn out. After moving with a new and higher quality training methods and horses I could see direct increasing progress.
Namita Nayyar:
While performing Equestrian vaulting where choreographing routines is an art form, it’s about finding a balance between showcasing strengths and creating a captivating performance. Elaborate?
Kateřina Kocurová:
I agree, I think vaulting is one of the most complicated sports on the world. You need it all. Strengh, flexibility, mental power, sense for art of movement and relationship with your partner-horse. Most important for me is a connection with a horse and flow, what I am still perfecting.
Namita Nayyar:
At 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games you were ranked in the team event that was held from 11th to 23rd September 2018 at Tryon NC USA, how this event in your equestrian vaulting journey act as a catalyst in your metriotic rise as a leading equestrian vaulting athlete?
Kateřina Kocurová:
WEG Tryon was just a rollercoaster. First of all it was my first year in 3* category (18+), but I was 17, yet I was able to qualify for myself and also with a team. Honestly, I don’t even know how I did it. We also struggled a lot with money, few months before we didn’t even know if we will be able to travel to USA. At the end we found a sponsor, so we could even take our squad horse with us, what was the most expensive article on the list.
Competition week also didn’t start well, because our horse was ill first days. On the place we had to find a reserve horse…that was very stressful. Fortunately our horse got better and we could compete on him, but we decided that another start for him would be a risk, so I used Canadian horse for my individual start. Team showed incredible performances and we catched an eye of the whole world. My starts due to lack of preparation didn’t go well, but I was happy for the team. At the end it was great experience and I started to starve for more.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
You had a memorable sporting achievement with your performance at the 2022 CHIO Aachen in Germany. Tell us your experience at this equestrian vaulting event and what you learned to move further in your sporting career.
Kateřina Kocurová:
Yes, that was a great competition. First year with my new team and first time I showed what I trained for. It was big step for me.
I would like to also mention CHIO Aachen this year, where I showed almost perfect round and I achieved great 11th place in one of the hardest competition on the world.
Namita Nayyar:
You have coaches like Claudia Döller Ossenberg-Engels and others who have been a catalyst who helped you pave the way to rise in your career with discipline and a never stopping attitude. Elaborate about their influence on your professional sporting life?
Kateřina Kocurová:
Yes, Claudia and her daughter Jolina are my prime coaches/friends. They were right from the start in Germany my biggest support and influence of my sport grow. They are people with same passion as me. Also I must say they are one of the nicest women I’ve ever met and I can always count on them. There are also few external big names coaches who help me with special needs, like Simone Drewell and Nicolas Andréani.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Kateřina Kocurová:
I think my workout routines are very specific for vaulting, so it is not exactly usable for classic fitness. But my big love is handstands, any type, style, position. I just love to be upside down. It taught me so much about understanding myself and my body in the whole new perspective. So, if you want to add something interesting in your training routine, try that handstand, any type counts. You can learn a lot about yourself that way.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Kateřina Kocurová:
I must say that I was always sporty, good genes helped too. Also it is quite easy for me to get “toned” when I want to, I am active the whole day because I do physical work plus trainings everyday just keeps me in shape, I just add extra workout. So I don’t have anything particular. You should always find a joy in your goal, not something you must do. So if it hurts too much, try something else, take a break.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Kateřina Kocurová:
I don’t have special diet, but I try to eat fresh and healthy food mostly, so I can afford also some treat like chocolate or fast food.
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you absolutely love and five you keep to a minimum.
Kateřina Kocurová:
Number one is chocolate, can’t live without it. Then it could be sushi, pizza and any type of good fruit or cheese. I really don’t like sweet potatoes and raisins, so I don’t eat meals containing that.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine.
Kateřina Kocurová:
I follow the motto “less is more”. I use natural shampoo, soap and deodorant. I don’t wear much makeup (just for competition, that’s a show time) and it works the best for me.
Namita Nayyar:
Building trust forms the core of vaulting athlete relationships with horses. Adapting to different horses for international competitions requires building trust swiftly. What is your unique strategy to build the near perfect connection with equine partners, Elaborate?
Kateřina Kocurová:
As I said before, connection with a horse is the most important to me. Because I ride horses in classic way too, spending the whole day with them, I think I got a sixth sense for them. I am trying to observe their behavior and reactions to me. They always tell you what they think if you listen carefully enough.
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Kateřina Kocurová:
Nike, Adidas, H&M, MOVE and basically anything what I feel good in, it doesn’t need to be a specific brand.
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list.
Kateřina Kocurová:
Japan, Patagonia, Iceland, South Africa horse safari and China.
Namita Nayyar:
Quote you live by.
Kateřina Kocurová:
“Learn to love yourself and you will not need anyone else to be loved by”.
Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about a day in the life of Kateřina Kocurová.
Kateřina Kocurová:
My day in life might not seem very interesting, but it’s what I wished for many years and of course occasionally I also do something else then just this.
I wake up, make myself breakfast and go to work, I work as a horse rider and groom in same stable as I train, so I am basically whole day with horse. My hobby literally became my job. When I am finished or how I plan it during the day I have variations of trainings. Later I make myself a dinner, I really enjoy cooking.
Namita Nayyar:
During the Covid pandemic. Tell us more about your routine to remain fit in those challenging times?
Kateřina Kocurová:
Pandemic actually started my journey for success, I had more time and sport was basically one of few things I could do without restrictions. In that time I really started to be creative in this way and found ultimate joy in it.
Namita Nayyar:
In sports like Equestrian vaulting how were you able to overcome any physical or sports injury setbacks and what advice can you give to those in a similar situation.
Kateřina Kocurová:
I was almost always healthy; I had few small injuries and problems but nothing devastating. I would advise not to push too much on your body, especially when you are young. Learn to listen to your body signals and don’t ignore warning calls. It’s better to be off for a week than a year.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and the message for its visitors?
Kateřina Kocurová:
In these days it’s more and more important to keep women’s voice loud. So I love to see you are doing this and show our strong sides.
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding Equestrian Vaulting girls, who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of Equestrian Vaulting?
Kateřina Kocurová:
Don’t give up. And trust me, you will want to. It will be hard and many people will try to take you down. Success is a lonely journey, but you will find a beauty in it.You are stronger than you think. It’s worth it. I am not there where I want to be yet, but I already enjoy the process.
Namita Nayyar:
A message for your ardent admirers on Instagram.
Kateřina Kocurová:
I am like you. There is nothing more in me than is in you, I admire these who are better than me, I do mistakes, I have bad days. We all have a dream. If I could get closer to it, you can too.
Kateřina Kocurová Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katharina_kocurova/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness