PRAGUE - Triple Olympic speedskating champion Martina Sablikova will travel to Rio for the cycling time trial without knowing whether she will be allowed to take part, her agent said Friday. Those pleading with International Olympic Committee for Sablikova included Czech President Milos Zeman and seven-time Olympic gymnastics champion Vera Caslavska. But the Czech Cycling Federation apparently overlooked a glitch in the rules -- that time trial qualifiers must also qualify for the road race, which Sablikova has not. Martina Sablikova of Czech Republic competes in the women's elite time trial in Copenhagen in 2011The 29-year-old Czech celebrated qualification to Rio after the world cycling championships in Richmond, United States last year. The possibility of racing at the summer Olympics is of course a big challenge," said the woman who has won the speedskating world cup on 3,000 and 5,000 metres every year since 2006.

Source: Bangkok Post July 22, 2016 11:48 UTC