David Wallechinsky is perhaps the most well-known historian of Olympic sports worldwide. Since 2012, he has been the president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, which he co-founded in 1991. Since 1984, he has published the acclaimed and continually updated work: "The Complete Book of the Olympics," available in editions for both the Summer and Winter Games. These books not only record results and competitions but also profile the most interesting Olympic medalists, sharing anecdotes and describing the subsequent lives of the greatest sports legends.
His works are filled with warm words and interesting stories about Polish athletes. Here are some notable examples.
A 21-Year-Old Pole Was in a Class of Her Own, and Irena Szewińska Was Amazing
About Elżbieta Krzesińska, who won gold in the long jump at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Wallechinsky writes: "The 21-year-old medical student was in a class of her own." No wonder – the Polish athlete equaled her world record at the Games with a jump of 6.35 meters, outjumping her next competitor, the USA's Willye White, by 26 centimeters.
Wallechinsky describes Irena Szewińska as "amazing," referring to her seven Olympic medals in five different events over three consecutive Games. She began her Olympic career at the 1964 Tokyo Games, where, as an 18-year-old Irena Kirszenstein, she won silver in the long jump and sensational gold in the 4x100 meters relay. She ran the second leg in a team with Teresa Ciepła, Halina Górecka, and Ewa Kłobukowska. The Polish team set a world record with a time of 43.6 seconds. At the same Games, Szewińska also won silver in the 200 meters.
Four years later, the Polish legend faced initial disappointment at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Despite equaling her world record in the 100 meters heats and winning the semi-final, she finished only third in the final. She also failed to qualify for the long jump final. However, she redeemed herself in the 200 meters final, setting a world record with a time of 22.58 seconds despite a slow start. Wallechinsky raises significant doubts about the wind measurements in Mexico: "Most people attribute the wealth of world records set in Mexico to the altitude, but another factor was the unusual method used by the Mexicans to determine wind speed. The acceptable limit for a world record is two meters per second, and this exact measurement was recorded during the women's 200 meters world record run, Bob Beamon's 8.90 meters long jump record, and Nelson Prudencio and Viktor Saneyev's triple jump records."
Szewińska earned the title "amazing" when she extended her dominant distance by 200 meters and competed in the 400 meters at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She was the first woman to break the 50-second barrier in this distance. When East German Christina Brehmer later broke Szewińska's record, the Polish athlete responded a month before the Olympics with a time of 49.75 seconds. The world eagerly anticipated a great duel between the 18-year-old Brehmer and the 30-year-old Pole.
"For 300 meters, the final was a close race, but then Szewińska pulled away radically to win by 10 meters," Wallechinsky describes. The Polish athlete set a phenomenal world record with a time of 49.28 seconds.
The First Woman to Break the 11-Second Barrier
Wallechinsky also devotes considerable space to another Polish multi-medalist, Stanisława Walasiewicz, who won gold and silver in the 100 meters at the Los Angeles and Berlin Olympics, respectively. Born on April 3, 1911, in Rypin, Poland, her family emigrated to the USA when she was still a child. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, known as Stella Walsh.
"On May 30, 1930, she became the first woman to break the 11-second barrier in the 100-yard dash," writes Wallechinsky. "In 1932, American running enthusiasts eagerly anticipated her Olympic gold at the Games. But Stella Walsh had a problem: due to the global economic crisis, New York Central Railroad reduced her position. She received a job offer from the Cleveland Recreation Department, but accepting it would disqualify her from the Olympics. According to the Olympic rules at the time, athletes who earned a living as teachers or physical education and recreation instructors were disqualified. Lacking further support from her second homeland, Stella Walsh made one of the most important decisions of her life. Twenty-four hours before she was to receive her American naturalization papers, she accepted a job offered by the Polish consulate in New York and decided to compete for Poland."
Stella Walsh did not disappoint in Los Angeles, equaling the world record of 11.9 seconds in each of her three races (heats, semi-finals, and final). "In the final, she was closely pressed by Hilde Srike but managed to win by half a yard. While many American observers saw Walsh's loss to Poland as a result of the lack of support for women's sports in the USA, there were also those who blamed Walsh herself. Until 1947, she did not hold American citizenship."
In 1935, Walasiewicz found a worthy rival in Helen Stephens. When the American defeated the Pole in the 50-yard dash and equaled the world record, Walasiewicz "was outraged by such audacity." A year later, at the Berlin Olympics, there was no doubt who would win gold. Stephens ran faster than the world record in the heats, semi-final, and final, although her results were not recognized due to wind assistance. In the final, she beat the Pole by two meters.
Polish Accusations of Stanisława Walasiewicz's Rival Being a Man
Wallechinsky provides an interesting account of what happened later: "The rivalry between Stephens and Walsh had a grotesque and delayed conclusion. After Stephens' victory in Berlin, a Polish journalist accused her of being a man, forcing German officials to issue a statement that they had received certification that the American had passed a gender verification test. Forty-four years later, on December 4, 1980, Walsh went to a discount store in Cleveland to buy ribs for a reception for the Polish basketball team. She was shot during an attempted robbery in the parking lot. During the subsequent autopsy, it was revealed that it was not Stephens who had male sexual organs, but Stella Walsh. The autopsy revealed that Walsh had a condition known as mosaicism, where she had both female and male chromosomes. She had a small penis and testes but no female organs. Throughout her career, during which she set 11 world records, won 41 USA collegiate titles, and two Olympic medals, she was, according to current rules, a man."
Regarding gender doubts, Wallechinsky also recalls the case of Ewa Kłobukowska, which he describes as "controversial." The Pole won bronze in the 100 meters and gold in the 4x100 meters relay at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. In 1967, at just 21 years old, she ended her career. It was later revealed that she was excluded from international competition for failing the chromosome gender test, disqualifying her from competing against women. Although she passed a visual examination, she was stripped of her world records but retained her medals.
"Kozakiewicz Drew Strength from the Hostility of the Russians"
Wallechinsky also elaborates on Władysław Kozakiewicz's rivalry with Konstantin Volkov in the pole vault competition at the 1980 Moscow Olympics:
"Unfortunately, the competition was marred by incredibly boorish behavior from many Soviet fans who jeered and mocked foreign jumpers, especially the Poles. Three thousand Polish fans in the audience responded similarly whenever Volkov jumped. Despite all this, Kozakiewicz seemed unfazed. On the contrary, he appeared to draw strength from the hostility of the Russians. He won the gold medal without a single miss and emphasized his victory with an obscene gesture toward the crowd. He then set the bar higher and set a world record (5.78 meters) on his second attempt. This was the first world record set in the pole vault competition at the Olympics since Frank Foss in 1920. Kozakiewicz then ran to the stands to shake hands with his countrymen, while Poles surrounded by Soviet soldiers sang: 'Poland is unbeatable.' Kozakiewicz later fled to West Germany."
Wallechinsky also provides a detailed account of the life of Jerzy Pawłowski, another controversial Polish champion. The Polish fencer was a five-time Olympic medalist, culminating in gold in individual competition in Mexico in 1968. Wallechinsky writes:
"In June, Jerzy Pawłowski, a 35-year-old major in the Polish army, received his law degree after defending his thesis titled 'Critique of Hayek's Neo-Liberal Conception of Freedom and Law.' In the final group in Mexico, Pawłowski defeated Mark Rakita 5-4 and then again in a playoff by the same score, achieving a final record of 16-2. Pawłowski became interested in fencing at age 16 after watching films from the London Olympics. He was a three-time world champion (1957, 1965, and 1966) and a four-time runner-up. In his military career, Pawłowski was considered a protégé of General Wojciech Jaruzelski, who later became the Polish prime minister. However, Pawłowski also worked as a spy for the CIA, although it's unclear whether his motivation was ideological or financial. Arrested in 1975, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ten years later, he was exchanged for three communist spies, but by choice, he remained in Poland."
The Norwegian Whom Janusz Sidło Gave His Own Javelin
Wallechinsky doesn't just write about champions but also about dramatic events involving Polish athletes. One such event was the women's long jump competition at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. "It was undoubtedly the most thrilling Olympic long jump competition in history," claims the American. Before the final round, Tatiana Skachenko of the USSR led, followed by Brigitte Wujak and Poland's Anna Włodarczyk. In the final round, Włodarczyk jumped 6.95 meters, "pushing her to second place and causing her to cry with joy." However, the next two minutes changed everything. First, the USSR's Tatiana Kolpakova jumped 7.06 meters, improving her personal best by 23 centimeters to take the lead, then Wujak added 14 centimeters to her best jump, reaching 7.04 meters to claim silver. Włodarczyk was left without a medal.
A similarly unusual way of losing the gold medal befell Janusz Sidło, Poland's five-time Olympian and multiple world record holder. Despite being a favorite several times, he only won silver in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics:
"After three rounds of the final, Janusz Sidło led ahead of Viktor Cybulenko (USSR) and Herbert Koschel (Germany). Egil Danielsen (Norway), who had won 36 consecutive competitions, was only in sixth place. In those days, javelin throwers used wooden javelins, except Janusz Sidło, who used a Swedish-made steel javelin. Sidło suggested to Danielsen that he try the steel javelin. Danielsen accepted the offer and prepared for his next throw. At that moment, Michel Marquet (France) approached Danielsen and offered him a cup of strong coffee. 'I had never drunk coffee before,' Danielsen later recalled, 'but after that cup, I almost went into shock. My heart started racing, and I began to sweat. I took the steel javelin, made a good run-up, and a powerful throw.' In that throw, Danielsen broke the world record held by Sidło with a distance of 85.71 meters, surpassing the previous best by two meters and five centimeters. Danielsen never had such a long throw again. 'I went crazy with joy. Sidło was the first to congratulate me,' Danielsen later recalled.
Four years later in Rome, Sidło was the best in the qualifications. If he had repeated his qualification throw of 85.14 meters in the final, he would have won gold. However, he only managed 76.46 meters, finishing in eighth place.
Kusociński Was Executed but Did Not Betray His Compatriots
In Wallechinsky's work, there are other mentions of stories of Polish Olympians dear to the hearts of fans in our country, not just for their athletic achievements. There is Janusz Kusociński from Ożarów Mazowiecki, whom the American historian presents not only as a magnificent runner who won gold at the 1932 Olympics but also as a resistance fighter during World War II. "Arrested by the Gestapo on March 26, 1940, he was imprisoned, beaten, and tortured. When it became clear that he would not betray his compatriots, he was executed on June 21, 1940."
Wallechinsky also mentions Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak, who won gold in the 3,000 meters steeplechase at the 1960 Rome Olympics, overcoming a coalition of Soviet runners who tried to exhaust him with team tactics. "It didn't work. The 31-year-old Polish world record holder surged past Nikolai Sokolov on the final back straight and won by 15 yards."
On the same distance, Bronisław Malinowski ran in "one of the greatest steeplechase finals of all time" in 1976. Midway through the race, the Pole attempted to break away from his rivals, setting a high pace but failing to do so. Swedish Anders Gärderud and East German Frank Baumgartl stayed close and attacked on the final lap, overtaking Malinowski. Baumgartl fell at the final barrier right in front of Malinowski, who managed to jump over him and secure silver. Gärderud set a world record with a time of 8:08.02, while Malinowski also beat the previous world best with a time of 8:09.11.
Four years later, Malinowski won gold in unusual circumstances. This time, he was the one chasing. Filbert Bayi of Tanzania had a 35-meter lead with two laps remaining but began to tire rapidly. "Malinowski caught him on the back straight and won easily, finally achieving his goal of an Olympic gold medal... Sadly, Malinowski died in a car accident on September 26, 1981, near his hometown of Grudziądz. He was 30 years old."
Wallechinsky vividly describes Władysław Komar, who "was twice kicked off the Polish national team for bad behavior and once received a lifetime ban." However, in 1972, he was reinstated and went to his third Olympics. He finished ninth in 1964 and sixth in 1968. In Munich, he improved his personal best by 18 centimeters in the first round, setting an Olympic record with a throw of 21.18 meters. His rivals threw very close to him: Hans-Peter Gies of East Germany threw 21.14 meters, as did his compatriot Hartmut Briesenick. American George Woods even hit Komar's marker in the final round. However, the judges measured his throw as one centimeter shorter than the Pole's. "Komar became an actor and appeared in Roman Polanski's film 'Pirates.' In 1993, after the fall of communism, he ran for a parliamentary seat with the Polish Beer Lovers' Party. He died in a car accident on August 17, 1998, as a passenger in a car driven by former pole vaulter Tadeusz Ślusarski. They were hit head-on by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel."
One of the Most Unexpected Winners at the Seoul Olympics
While Wallechinsky treats the history of shooting at the Olympics somewhat cursorily, he notes Józef Zapędzki's triumph in Munich: "43-year-old Józef Zapędzki was a major in the Polish army when he won his second gold medal. After the competition, he visited nearby Dachau and laid a wreath on his father's grave, who had been murdered by the Nazis 30 years earlier."
In combat sports, the American historian also writes sparingly or not at all about individual champions, focusing only on the biggest stars and most notable events. Among the many outstanding Polish boxers, he writes the most about Andrzej Gołota, who won bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. "Gołota turned professional in 1992 and fought successfully for several years. However, he is best known for his two disqualification losses to Riddick Bowe in 1996 for low blows, despite clearly winning both fights. He was also twice arrested in Poland for attacking during a bar brawl."
Judoka Paweł Nastula is praised by the American historian for "quick work" in defeating five opponents at the Atlanta Olympics. Only one, Brazilian Aurelio Miguel, lasted the full distance; Nastula dispatched the other four in a total of eight minutes and 48 seconds.
Wrestler Andrzej Wroński is described as "one of the most unexpected winners at the Seoul Olympics." Before his victory in 1988, Wroński had never placed in the top eight in any major international competition. His opponents in Seoul were all top-tier. However, the Pole caused a huge upset by defeating European champion Jozef Tertelj of Yugoslavia, world silver medalist Dennis Koslowski, and defending Olympic champion Vasile Andrei of Romania. In the final, Wroński defeated 1988 European bronze medalist Gerhard Himmel of Germany, scoring the decisive points by lifting and throwing his opponent to the mat.
One of the funniest anecdotes Wallechinsky shares involves the wrestling Lipień twins, Kazimierz and Józef:
"Kazimierz Lipień won world championships in 1973 and 1974 but lost controversially to Nelson Dawidian (USSR) in 1975. They met again in the sixth round of the Montreal Olympics, and Dawidian won another controversial victory, 10-6. In that match, Soviet coach Viktor Igumenov was ordered to leave the arena for illegally shouting instructions during the bout. He continued giving commands from a greater distance. Lipień still secured the gold medal with a decisive 13-4 victory over Laszlo Recz. The nine-point difference reduced the penalty points for the match from 1 to 0.5."
Lipień ended with 3.5 penalty points, Dawidian with 4, and Recz with 4.5. This determined the podium positions.
Wallechinsky continues: "Kazimierz's brother, Józef Lipień, won a silver medal in the bantamweight division at the 1980 Olympics. During the 1975 World Championships, the Poles were accused of substituting Kazimierz for Józef in one match. The accusers should have known that Józef always parted his hair on the left, while Kazimierz parted his on the right. At the press conference after the Montreal Olympics, Kazimierz, a 27-year-old plumber, advised wrestlers aspiring for success to abstain from smoking and drinking. 'And no women,' added bronze medalist Laszlo Reczi. However, Lipień disagreed: 'That's too much of a sacrifice. Women are also good for wrestling with.'"
