David Kalina spends all his free time on the ice — how do you combine playing hockey with studying at gymnázium?

“Interesting people at SlovGym” — this time we asked fourth-year hockey player David Kalina for an interview.

Good day, David — how do you manage training sessions during the school year? Do you have to adjust your schedule somehow?

Good day. During the season (from September until almost March), it works out well — I just need to arrange individual instruction for the lessons I'd miss because of training. It's harder at the end of the school year, though, in May and June, when we have dry-land training. During that time, the training sessions are considerably more physically demanding, and that shows in my schoolwork too. But I do my best not to “slack off” on school.

So if I understand correctly, the school accommodates you in creating an individual plan?

Yes, absolutely. I have to say I'm really grateful for our gymnázium's approach.

To sum up, then, how often do you have training sessions, matches, and any training camps?

I go to training three times a week. I also do individual training sessions at HTC Praha, which are specially geared toward hockey players. We have one match a week, sometimes two. There are no training camps anymore at this older age group — those are usually only up to age 15.

Which club do you play for, David?

Right now I play regionally for Letňany, because they wouldn't let me move up. There aren't many players on the team, so they keep holding on to me. Honestly, though, I'm looking forward to when Letňany “let” me move up.

People often talk about injuries among athletes — how is it for you?

Luckily, injuries haven't bothered me much — knock on wood, I haven't been injured in a long time. That's certainly partly because the training sessions at HTC are designed, among other things, as injury prevention.

Are you happy at our gymnázium? Would you recommend it to other applicants, athletes included?

I'd definitely recommend our gymnázium. From what I've heard from other athletes, other secondary schools don't take students' sports activities much into account. Any kind of individual approach just doesn't work there. Here it's the opposite — I really can't complain at all.

What else would you highlight about our gymnázium?

Besides the individual approach, I'd like to highlight the teaching of 3 languages, the accommodating teachers, and definitely the location too. Thanks to the multicultural environment here, I get the chance to discover new cultures, new worlds, and learn a lot. That wouldn't have happened to me anywhere else.

Which university have you decided to go to?

I'd like to get into Charles University — in territorial studies, or international relations and political science, though territorial studies appeals to me more.

David, thank you for the interview, and we're keeping our fingers crossed both for your school-leaving exam and your subsequent admission to university.