Poland finished the European Athletics Indoor Championships with four medals, which included two golds.
Anna Wielgosz (800 m) and Jakub Szymański (60 m hurdles) were the two outstanding performers in Apeldoorn, Netherlands over the weekend.
Maksymilian Szwed (400 m) took silver, and Pia Skrzyszowska (60 m hurdles) picked up a bronze.
The general consensus was that the overall performance from the Poles was about par for the course, finishing fifth of eight in the medal table, sandwiched between Switzerland and Ukraine.
Several of the country’s top performers - including the Olympic bronze medalist Natalia Bukowiecka - were absent, choosing to focus instead on the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, which begins on March 21.
Poland’s surprise performer in the Netherlands was Wielgosz. At 31 years old and having been eliminated in the qualifying rounds of last year’s Olympic Games, the spotlight had fallen elsewhere.
Maksymilian Szwed (400 m) took silver, and Pia Skrzyszowska (60 m hurdles) picked up a bronze.
The general consensus was that the overall performance from the Poles was about par for the course, finishing fifth of eight in the medal table, sandwiched between Switzerland and Ukraine.
Several of the country’s top performers - including the Olympic bronze medalist Natalia Bukowiecka - were absent, choosing to focus instead on the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, which begins on March 21.
Poland’s surprise performer in the Netherlands was Wielgosz. At 31 years old and having been eliminated in the qualifying rounds of last year’s Olympic Games, the spotlight had fallen elsewhere.
“If you are patient and strive for success, it will eventually come,” she said post-race.Poland’s Anna Wielgosz won a gold medal in the 800-meter race at the indoor championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/tCffI3YaOJ
— TVP World (@TVPWorld_com) March 9, 2025
Promising Polish youth
Szymański, at the other end of the career spectrum at 22 years old, has set his sights high, aiming to challenge Olympic gold medalist Grant Holloway, who has never lost indoors, in China in a fortnight.
“We went through every stage of the competition perfectly. Kuba [Szymański], compared to last year, has made huge progress in his technique, which has given him more self-confidence,” his coach Mikołaj Justyński said.
“We went through every stage of the competition perfectly. Kuba [Szymański], compared to last year, has made huge progress in his technique, which has given him more self-confidence,” his coach Mikołaj Justyński said.
Poland’s Jakub Szymański became the European indoor champion after outclassing the competition in the men’s 60m hurdles in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
— TVP World (@TVPWorld_com) March 8, 2025
The future also looks bright for Skrzyszowska - whose name the announcer during the medal ceremony had particular trouble pronouncing. The 23-year-old is continually improving and the 7.83 seconds that she clocked in the final was her fastest of the season.
The other finalists, Ewa Swoboda and Weronika Lizakowska, were a little underwhelming. The former, currently the most recognizable face in Polish athletics, came fourth in the 60m, with Patrizia van der Weken ahead of her by one hundredth of a second.
Lizakowska was the only Polish representative to compete in two distances. She came tenth in the 3,000m and sixth in the 1,500m, a race in which she would have hoped for more.
The other finalists, Ewa Swoboda and Weronika Lizakowska, were a little underwhelming. The former, currently the most recognizable face in Polish athletics, came fourth in the 60m, with Patrizia van der Weken ahead of her by one hundredth of a second.
Lizakowska was the only Polish representative to compete in two distances. She came tenth in the 3,000m and sixth in the 1,500m, a race in which she would have hoped for more.
Veterans disappoint
Justyna Święty-Ersetic (400 m) and Paulina Ligarska (pentathlon) took fifth place in their respective disciplines. Oliwer Wdowik (60 m), Krzysztof Kiljan (60 m hurdles), Angelika Sarna, Bartosz Kitliński, Maciej Wyderka and Patryk Sieradzki (all 800 m) were eliminated in their semi-finals.
Whilst team Poland’s performance was not outstanding, many of the participants were young athletes who flew to Apeldoorn more for experience rather than medals.
However, some of the veterans were less impressive. The 2018 European silver medal shot putter Konrad Bukowiecki is struggling for form.
Similarly, Piotr Lisek, a 10-time medalist in major events in the pole vault, failed to make it to the final. He has not reached his previous heights since making his debut as a mixed martial arts fighter in Fame MMA in 2023.
Most European athletes will now turn their focus onto the competition in Nanjing in two weeks' time, followed by the Diamond League, which gets underway in late April in Doha, Qatar. The pinnacle of the year will be the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
Whilst team Poland’s performance was not outstanding, many of the participants were young athletes who flew to Apeldoorn more for experience rather than medals.
However, some of the veterans were less impressive. The 2018 European silver medal shot putter Konrad Bukowiecki is struggling for form.
Similarly, Piotr Lisek, a 10-time medalist in major events in the pole vault, failed to make it to the final. He has not reached his previous heights since making his debut as a mixed martial arts fighter in Fame MMA in 2023.
Most European athletes will now turn their focus onto the competition in Nanjing in two weeks' time, followed by the Diamond League, which gets underway in late April in Doha, Qatar. The pinnacle of the year will be the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
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