Poland at the Olympics

Last updated
Poland at the
Olympics
Flag of Poland.svg
IOC code POL
NOC Polish Olympic Committee
Website www.olimpijski.pl  (in Polish)
Medals
Ranked 23rd
Gold
80
Silver
100
Bronze
151
Total
331
Summer appearances
Winter appearances
Other related appearances
Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire (1900, 1912)
Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Austria (1908–1912)

Poland first participated at the Olympic Games in 1924, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for the 1984 Games, when they were forced to be part of the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics. Poland has also participated in every Winter Olympic Games.

Contents

Polish athletes have won a total of 331 medals (80 gold, 100 silver, 151 bronze) in 21 different summer and 5 different winter sports and the country currently ranks 21st in the all-time Olympic Games medal count, with athletics as the top medal-producing sport. Poland is the second most successful country in total medals of those who have never hosted the Olympics. The nation's best overall performance at the Olympics occurred at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, with the country's athletes winning 7 gold, 6 silver and 13 bronze medals and finishing sixth in the medal table.

Its most successful teams have been football and volleyball. Poland ranks fifth all-time in modern pentathlon, seventh in athletics, and has also been successful in weightlifting, martial arts and nordic skiing.

The National Olympic Committee for Poland is the Polish Olympic Committee (Polish: Polski Komitet Olimpijski, PKOl). The entity was created in 1918 and recognized in 1919. [1]

History

Poland officially made its debut at the Olympics in 1924, however, Polish athletes did participate in earlier editions of the Olympic Games representing other nations. The first ever Olympic medal for Poland (silver) was won by track cyclists in team pursuit Franciszek Szymczyk, Jan Lazarski, Józef Lange and Tomasz Stankiewicz at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris while the first gold medal for Poland was won by discus thrower Halina Konopacka at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. [2] The first Polish sportsperson who individually won two Olympic medals (silver and bronze) was equestrian Michał Antoniewicz in 1928.

After setting its gold medal record (7) in Montreal at the 1976 Summer Games, Poland won its largest number of medals to date (32) at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Poland was forced to boycott the next Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles by the Soviet Union, alongside another 13 Eastern Bloc countries in response to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The most successful Polish Olympian to date is Irena Szewińska with seven Olympic medals altogether. [3] With four gold medals, Robert Korzeniowski is the most successful Polish Olympian in terms of the number of gold medals. [4]

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Games

Source: [5] [6] [7]

Medals by summer sport

SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 29201867
Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 8102644
Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 662234
Wrestling pictogram.svg  Wrestling 591327
Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 491023
Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 441220
Shooting pictogram.svg  Shooting 43512
Judo pictogram.svg  Judo 3328
Modern pentathlon pictogram.svg  Modern pentathlon 3014
Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 1326
Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 1326
Football pictogram.svg  Football 1203
Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing 1135
Gymnastics (artistic) pictogram.svg  Gymnastics 1124
Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1124
Climbing pictogram.svg  Sport climbing 1012
Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 091423
Cycling (road) pictogram.svg  Cycling 08412
Archery pictogram.svg  Archery 0112
Handball pictogram.svg  Handball 0011
Tennis pictogram.svg  Tennis 0011
Totals (21 entries)7393142308

Medals by winter sport

SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Ski jumping pictogram.svg  Ski jumping 43310
Cross country skiing pictogram.svg  Cross country skiing 2125
Speed skating pictogram.svg  Speed skating 1236
Biathlon pictogram.svg  Biathlon 0101
Nordic combined pictogram.svg  Nordic combined 0011
Totals (5 entries)77923

Multiple medalists

AthleteSportOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Robert Korzeniowski Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1996–20044004
Irena Szewińska Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1964–19763227
Kamil Stoch Ski jumping pictogram.svg  Ski jumping 2014–20183014
Anita Włodarczyk Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2012–20203003
Justyna Kowalczyk Cross country skiing pictogram.svg  Cross country skiing 2006–20142125
Witold Woyda Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1964–19722114
Renata Mauer Shooting pictogram.svg  Shooting 1996–20002013
Józef Szmidt Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1960–19642002
Waldemar Baszanowski Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 1964–19682002
Jerzy Kulej Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1964–19682002
Józef Zapędzki Shooting pictogram.svg  Shooting 1968–19722002
Waldemar Legień Judo pictogram.svg  Judo 1988–19922002
Arkadiusz Skrzypaszek Modern pentathlon pictogram.svg  Modern pentathlon 19922002
Andrzej Wroński Wrestling pictogram.svg  Wrestling 1988–19962002
Robert Sycz Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2000–20042002
Tomasz Kucharski Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2000–20042002
Tomasz Majewski Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2008–20122002
Jerzy Pawłowski Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1956–19681315
Otylia Jędrzejczak Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 2000–20041203
Teresa Ciepły Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1960–19641113
Egon Franke Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1964–19681113
Natalia Kaczmarek Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2020-20241113
Stanisława Walasiewicz Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1932–19361102
Elżbieta Krzesińska Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1956–19601102
Józef Grudzień Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1964–19681102
Lesław Ćmikiewicz Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Kazimierz Deyna Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Jerzy Gorgoń Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Kazimierz Kmiecik Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Grzegorz Lato Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Zygmunt Maszczyk Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Antoni Szymanowski Football pictogram.svg  Football 1972–19761102
Bronisław Malinowski Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1976–19801102
Tadeusz Ślusarski Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1976–19801102
Jacek Wszoła Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1976–19801102
Jan Kowalczyk Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 19801102
Szymon Kołecki Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 2000–20081102
Iga Baumgart-Witan Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 20201102
Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 20201102
Justyna Święty-Ersetic Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 20201102
Ireneusz Paliński Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 1960–19641012
Halina Górecka Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1960–19641012
Marian Kasprzyk Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1960–19641012
Ewa Kłobukowska Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 19641012
Lech Koziejowski Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1972–19801012
Kazimierz Lipień Wrestling pictogram.svg  Wrestling 1972–19761012
Jerzy Rybicki Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1976–19801012
Mateusz Kusznierewicz Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing 1996–20041012
Leszek Blanik Gymnastics (artistic) pictogram.svg  Gymnastics 2000–20081012
Zbigniew Bródka Speed skating pictogram.svg  Speed skating 20141012
Magdalena Fularczyk Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2012–20161012
Wojciech Nowicki Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2016-20201012
Adam Małysz Ski jumping pictogram.svg  Ski jumping 2002–20100314
Andrzej Piątkowski Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1956–19640213
Ryszard Zub Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1956–19640213
Wojciech Zabłocki Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1956–19640213
Marian Kuszewski Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 1956–19600202
Artur Olech Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1964–19680202
Stanisław Szozda Cycling (road) pictogram.svg  Cycling 1972–19760202
Ryszard Szurkowski Cycling (road) pictogram.svg  Cycling 1972–19760202
Piotr Małachowski Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2008–20160202
Maja Włoszczowska Cycling (road) pictogram.svg  Cycling 2008–20160202
Karolina Naja Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 2012–20200134
Aneta Konieczna Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 2000–20080123
Beata Mikołajczyk Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 2008–20160123
Zbigniew Pietrzykowski Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1956–19640123
Józef Tracz Wrestling pictogram.svg  Wrestling 1988–19960123
Michał Antoniewicz Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 19280112
Janusz Pawłowski Judo pictogram.svg  Judo 1980–19880112
Marek Dopierała Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 19880112
Marek Łbik Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 19880112
Izabela Dylewska Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 1988–19920112
Artur Partyka Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1992–19960112
Sylwia Gruchała Fencing pictogram.svg  Fencing 2000–20040112
Agata Wróbel Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 2000–20040112
Katarzyna Bachleda-Curuś Speed skating pictogram.svg  Speed skating 2010–20140112
Katarzyna Woźniak Speed skating pictogram.svg  Speed skating 2010–20140112
Luiza Złotkowska Speed skating pictogram.svg  Speed skating 2010–20140112
Agnieszka Kobus-Zawojska Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2016–20200112
Maria Sajdak Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2016–20200112
Anna Puławska Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 20200112
Marian Zieliński Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 1956–19680033
Teodor Kocerka Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 1952–19600022
Krystyna Czajkowska Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1964–19680022
Krystyna Jakubowska Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1964–19680022
Krystyna Krupa Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1964–19680022
Jadwiga Książek Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1964–19680022
Józefa Ledwig Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1964–19680022
Zofia Szczęśniewska Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg  Volleyball 1964–19680022
Leszek Błażyński Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1972–19760022
Janusz Gortat Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1972–19760022
Beata Sokołowska-Kulesza Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 2000–20040022
Dawid Kubacki Ski jumping pictogram.svg  Ski jumping 2018–20220022

Medals in art competitions

In addition to its accomplishments in sport, Poland has also earned recognition in Olympic art competitions—one of the three non-sports events once included in the Olympic Games. The country won a total of eight art competition medals (3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze), across the 1928, 1932, 1936, and 1948 Summer Olympics. [7] These events were part of the official Olympic program in seven Summer Games, from 1912 to 1948. In 1952, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally discontinued all non-sport events (including art competitions), as well as awards for feats (such as alpinism and aeronautics). These were subsequently removed from official national medal counts. [8] [nb 1]

Medalists

MedalNameGamesEventPiece
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Kazimierz Wierzyński Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1928 Amsterdam Literature, Lyric works "Laur Olimpijski" [9] [10]
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Władysław Skoczylas Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1928 Amsterdam Painting, Drawings "Archer" [11] [12]
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Józef Klukowski Flag of the United States.svg 1932 Los Angeles Sculpture, Medals And Reliefs "Sport Sculpture II" [13]
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Janina Konarska Flag of the United States.svg 1932 Los Angeles Painting, Graphic Arts "Stadium" [14]
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Józef Klukowski Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1936 Berlin Sculpture, Reliefs "Ball" [15]
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Jan Parandowski Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1936 Berlin Literature, Epic works "Olympic Discus" [16] [17]
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Stanisław Ostoja-Chrostowski Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1936 Berlin Painting, Applied Arts "Yachting Club Certificate" [18] [19]
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Zbigniew Turski Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1948 London Music, Compositions for Qrchestra "Olympic Symphony" [20] [21]

Flag bearers

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 In 1952, art competition medals, as well as the gold medal awards for feats in alpinism and aeronatics, were removed from the official national medal counts. [8] Only since 2021 have they been officially listed again by the IOC in the medal tables and respective NOC profile on its website. Poland won a total of eight art competition medals (3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze), across the 1928, 1932, 1936, and 1948 Summer Olympics. [7]

References

  1. "History" . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  2. "Magazyn Olimpijski" (PDF) (in Polish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. "Irena Szewińska. Kim była? Lista rekordów i medali" (in Polish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. "Sukcesy sportowe - Robert Korzeniowski" (in Polish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Olympic Analytics – Poland (POL)". olympanalyt.com. Olympic Analytics. 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  6. 1 2 "Olympedia – Poland (POL)". olympedia.org. Olympedia. 2023. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  7. 1 2 3 "Poland - NOC Profile". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2024. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  8. McGillivray, Mary (2024-07-31). "ABC TV's The Art Of explores the surprising history of art competitions at the Olympics". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  9. "Olympedia – Literature, Lyric Works, Open 1928". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  10. "Kazimierz Wierzynski". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  11. "Olympedia – Painting, Drawings And Water Colors, Open 1928". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  12. "Wladyslaw Skoczylas". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  13. "Olympedia – Sculpturing, Medals And Reliefs, Open 1932". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  14. "Olympedia – Painting, Graphic Arts, Open 1932". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  15. "Olympedia – Sculpturing, Reliefs, Open 1936". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  16. "Olympedia – Literature, Epic Works, Open 1936". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  17. "Jan Parandowski". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  18. "Olympedia – Painting, Applied Arts, Open 1936". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  19. "Stanislaw OSTOJA CHROSTOWSKI". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  20. "Olympedia – Music, Compositions For Orchestra, Open 1948". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  21. "Zbigniew Turski". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-06.