Czech racers won five medals overall, but Hilgertová did not find a place at the podium.

"I was so much hoping to win a medal here and in the end finished just a small step under the podium," Hilgertová said after the competition, held Aug. 2–6.

At 38, Hilgertová is a Czech whitewater-kayaking icon. She's won two Olympic gold medals and two world championships. She was the country's flagship in the sport in the 1990s, when Czech kayakers dominated the Olympics and other international events.

Hilgertová and her teammates lost a step or two in the past few years and came home empty-handed from last year's World Championship in Penrith, Australia.

Hilgertová and other Czech kayakers nevertheless planned a comeback in Prague this month.

"We know the water streams here better than anywhere else," she said.

The team was largely successful, winning two gold medals, two silvers and one bronze. Only France won more medals.

"We got what we hoped for," said the team's coach, Jiří Pultera.

Still, Hilgertová walked away disappointed.

In the final race, fans and even the event's announcer cheered her on. Unfortunately, Hilgertová said, this ended up working against her.

"I couldn't concentrate that well when I heard the loud comments from the speaker," she said. "I'm used to hearing just the water flow and the cheering of fans. This time, however, there was one more voice ... and I could not help but listen to it. Instead of fully focusing on paddling, I was distracted."

As a result, the veteran kayaker twice touched the slalom poles and finished in fifth place.

Hilgertová said after the race that she truly believed she was capable of winning a medal in Prague.

"I feel that I could have won a medal," she said, while at the same time conceding that it's becoming harder for her to keep pace with younger competitors.