Jaroslava Jehličková

Jaroslava Jehličková (born 24 March 1942) is a Czech former middle-distance runner for Czechoslovakia. She was the first ever international champion in the women's 1500 metres, winning the gold at the 1969 European Athletics Championships in a world record time of 4:10.77 minutes. She competed twice at the Summer Olympic Games (1968 and 1972). During her career, she set personal bests of 2:04.7 for the 800 metres and 4:08.39 for the 1500 m.

Career Born in Hořice, Jehličková established herself at national level in the mid-1960s in the 800 m, which was then the longest distance regularly by women. The longer 1500 m was introduced as a championship event for the 1969 European Athletics Championships—the first time the women's race was incorporated at a major international event—and it began to be contested more widely. Jehličková became the first Czechoslovak national champion in the 1500 m, and she also defended her 800 m title.

She did not compete in the 1970 season, but returned in 1971 to repeat her middle-distance double at the national championships.

National titles Czechoslovak Athletics Championships 800 m: 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971 1500 m: 1969, 1971, 1972

International competitions