Radko Gudas: Carrying a Legacy and Chasing Olympic Gold
MILAN – Radko Gudas beams when recalling his father, Leo, winning a bronze medal as a defenseman for Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Albertville Olympics. Though only 1 ½ years old at the time, the medal has been a constant presence in his life. He’s held it countless times, perhaps even worn it as a child, and now, as a defenseman for Team Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, he’s driven by a powerful motivation.
“My dad is always waving at me the bronze medal from Albertville, so it’s kind of like, I need to beat him to be able to wave at him something too,” Gudas shared after practice at Santagiulia Arena on Tuesday. This Olympic appearance is particularly meaningful for the 35-year-old captain of the Anaheim Ducks and a seasoned NHL veteran with 872 games over 14 seasons. He also serves as an alternate captain for the Czech national team.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Olympic Stage
Gudas first represented the Czech Republic at the Olympics in Sochi in 2014, where they fell to Team USA 5-2 in the quarterfinals. He eagerly anticipated returning to the Winter Games, but the NHL’s absence from PyeongChang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022 delayed his opportunity. Now, with NHL players back in the mix, so is he.
When asked about aging gracefully, Gudas chuckled, “I’m more of a beer guy than wine. But yeah, I never thought I’d be at this level at this age, so I’m really happy.”
The Weight of Czech Hockey History
The return of NHL players to the Olympics holds significant weight for Czechia. The nation’s golden moment came in Nagano in 1998, the first time NHL players participated. Gudas, then 7 ½, vividly remembers watching with his father, even skipping school to witness the historic victory.
“They came, and we still were able to beat them. It’s one of the nicest Czech sports history events. Everybody remembers it. Even people that weren’t born yet, they saw the games. It’s still sometimes on TV in Czech, and it’s one of the proudest moments for Czech hockey world,” Gudas reflected.
From Prague to the NHL and Back
Gudas’s hockey journey began in Prague, where he witnessed the New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL Premiere Series in 2008. Little did he know that Tampa Bay would draft him in the third round in 2010. He’s since played for the Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Ducks.
Known for his physicality – he’s second in the NHL in hits since the 2012-13 season with 3,205, trailing only Matt Martin (3,248) – Gudas is a formidable opponent. “It’s always tough to play against him,” says Team Czechia teammate David Kampf of the Vancouver Canucks. “He’s a heavy guy, and plays hard, so it’s nice to have him on my side.”
Leadership and a Recent Triumph
Gudas has consistently represented his country at various levels, culminating in a gold medal win at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Prague. Alongside veteran captain Roman Cervenka, he provides crucial leadership. “They’re the biggest leaders on our team,” says Dallas Stars forward Radek Faksa. “They lead the way on and off the ice. When we don’t play well, they talk to us in the dressing room. Just seeing them on the ice and off the ice, you just feel better. They bring us so much confidence.”
Facing Canada and the Road Ahead
Team Czechia’s Olympic journey begins against Team Canada on Thursday. “Our first game against Team Canada is going to be one of the biggest challenges for us, so we got to be ready,” Gudas stated. “We have to have our feet going from minute No. 1.”
Gudas exudes confidence. “We know what kind of stage we’re on, and we want to perform at the highest level that we possibly can hoping that we can do some damage in the tournament. There’s some great teams on the other sides too, but yeah, I really believe in our group that we want to do something here and want to give our country a chance again to be proud of us.”
His father will join him in Milan later in the tournament, “maybe for the most important games.” But his mother, wife, and kids are already here, sharing in the experience. “It’s a fun time in our family. The kids are really enjoying it. We show the kids that their grandpa was at the Olympics too. Now I’m here too, so they’re kind of soaking it in. I don’t know if they really understand yet, but it’s fun to have them around.”
Perhaps they’ll one day hold an Olympic medal of their own. “When we won [the World Championship] a couple years ago, we took couple pictures with all the medals we had in the family,” Gudas said. “Yeah, it still looked pretty nice, so I wouldn’t mind having one of those myself.”
