Emma Zapletalová
SlovakiaActive- Born
- Mar 24, 2000 (26 years old)
- Birthplace
- Nitra, Slovakia
- Events
- 400 m hurdles · 400 m
- Height
- 1.77 m
- Weight
- 63 kg
Emma Zapletalova is a Slovak hurdler born on March 24, 2000, in Nitra. Standing 177 cm tall and weighing 63 kg, she specializes in the 400 metres hurdles and 400 metres, holding the Slovak national record in both events.
Zapletalova won the bronze medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, achieving a podium finish at the sport's highest level. Previously, she won the 400 metres hurdles title at the 2021 European U23 Championships, demonstrating her progression from age-group champion to world-class performer.
As a World Championships medallist and double Slovak national record holder, Zapletalova has established herself as her country's greatest ever hurdler. Her trajectory from European U23 champion to World Championships bronze medallist showcases her remarkable development and positions her among the elite in women's 400m hurdles.
As of Oct 28, 2026: 400 m hurdles 52.30 (#29 all-time), 400 m 50.59 (#288 all-time), 2026 season best 52.30 (Jun 19, 2026, Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT)) · Last competition: World Athletics Ultimate Championship, Sep 11, 2026, 52.93 · World Championships: 1 bronze · National record (400 m) · 26 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | – | – | 1 | 1 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 400m | 50.59 | – | Jun 16, 2026 | 65th Ostrava Golden Spike |
| 2026 | 400m-short-track Indoor | 50.78 | – | Feb 8, 2026 | Meeting Metz Moselle Athlélor Crédit Mutuel |
| 2026 | 400m-short-track | 51.67 | – | Jan 31, 2026 | IFAM Gent Indoor |
| 2026 | 400mH | 52.30 | – | Jun 19, 2026 | Doha Meeting |
| 2026 | 4x400Metre Indoor | 3:29.87 | – | Mar 22, 2026 | World Athletics Indoor Championships |
| 2025 | 200m | 23.15 | +1.5 | Aug 3, 2025 | Slovak Championships, Štadión SNP, Banská Bystrica |
| 2025 | 400m | 50.76 | – | Jun 28, 2025 | European Athletics Team Championships Second Division, Atletski stadion Poljane, Maribor |
| 2025 | 400m-short-track Indoor | 52.61 | – | Jan 25, 2025 | SsAZ U16 / U18 / Senior Regional Indoor Championships |