PRESTIGIOUS CRYSTAL WING AWARD FOR SLOVAKIAN HERO VACULIK

Speedway GP star Martin Vaculik has been honoured among the best of the best in Slovakia after picking up the prestigious Crystal Wing (Krištáľové krídlo) sports award in Bratislava on Saturday.

Vaculik was nominated for the prize after racing to a career-best third place in the 2023 Speedway GP World Championship, becoming the first Slovakian rider in history to reach the rostrum.

The Crystal Wing awards, presented live on national TV channel RTVS, honour Slovakian people who put themselves and their country in the spotlight in a wide range of fields. These include philanthropy, economics, journalism and literature, theatre and audiovisual arts, fine arts, music, popular music, sports, medicine and science, innovation and startups, extraordinary success abroad or another significant achievement.

With Speedway GP televised live and free-to-air on RTVS throughout 2023, Vaculik took the sport to new heights in his homeland, winning Speedway GP rounds in Prague and Cardiff along the way.

Vaculik was elated to be recognised with the Crystal Wing award. He said: “I would like to thank you very much for awarding me the Crystal Wing in the sports category. 

“This award is very prestigious, just to be nominated among so many amazing personalities I have had the chance to see is also something special to me. 

“Certainly, it is a great honour and a great motivation for me to continue working hard. I'll keep doing what I'm doing the best I know how. 

“Thank you very much to my family and the people who gave me this wonderful award. I promise to give it my all on the track. Thank you very much.”