For the first time in history Poland’s Olympic team will feature more women than men.
Of the 213 athletes set to represent the country in Paris, 113 will be women. Among them will be hammer thrower Anita Włodarczyk who will become only the third female to carry the Polish flag during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games.
3x3 basketball player Przemysław Zamojski will also join Włodarczyk as a flag bearer with both hoping to break the so-called flag bearers curse - not since the judoka Waldemar Legień won a gold in 1992 has a Polish flag bearer stood on an Olympic podium.
Włodarczyk, however, has a better chance than most. Regarded as the greatest female hammer thrower of all time, the 38-year-old currently holds the world record for the longest throw (82.98 m). Neither can her Olympic pedigree be called into question. Claiming consecutive golds at the last three games, the reigning champion is viewed as a living legend of the sport.
The Polish Olympic Committee (POC) announced details of the squad earlier on Monday with just under two weeks left until the games begin. By submitting the final cut of athletes a little later than planned, the POC hope to avoid the situation that occurred at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
On that occasion, some members of the swimming team were forced to return home after blunders were made in the registration process.
3x3 basketball player Przemysław Zamojski will also join Włodarczyk as a flag bearer with both hoping to break the so-called flag bearers curse - not since the judoka Waldemar Legień won a gold in 1992 has a Polish flag bearer stood on an Olympic podium.
Włodarczyk, however, has a better chance than most. Regarded as the greatest female hammer thrower of all time, the 38-year-old currently holds the world record for the longest throw (82.98 m). Neither can her Olympic pedigree be called into question. Claiming consecutive golds at the last three games, the reigning champion is viewed as a living legend of the sport.
The Polish Olympic Committee (POC) announced details of the squad earlier on Monday with just under two weeks left until the games begin. By submitting the final cut of athletes a little later than planned, the POC hope to avoid the situation that occurred at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
On that occasion, some members of the swimming team were forced to return home after blunders were made in the registration process.
Source: PAP / TVN
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