Poland wins five medals at European Swimming Championships

Polish swimmers have attained absolutely fabulous results winning five medals during the first day of European Swimming championships in Helsinki. Otylia Jędrzejczak has won a gold medal and set a new European record in the 200m butterfly swim in a 25 metre pool at 2.04 seconds. The other gold medal went to Katarzyna Baranowska in 200m various style swim, a silver one to Przemek Stańczyk in 400 metres distance and 2 bronze ones to Ola Urbańczak in 200 metre distance and Paweł Korzeniowski in 400 metres. Andrzej Person, a sports commentator comments this event:

“I’m very happy because she won five medals in one day. Otylia Jędrzejczak is in fantastic shape. The new European record means she will be one of Europe’s favourites in March, 2007.”

This shows that the Polish swimming team is in shape and likely to do very well in the next World Swimming Championships 2007 in Melbourne. But Otylia Jędrzejczak isn’t the only great Polish swimmer, Poland has some other promising swimmers.
Andrzej Person again:

“The younger swimmer Baranowska who won the other gold medal is very talented. In my opinion she will be our big hope in Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the same with Korzeniowski and Stańczyk. We have a very strong team now. I think Germany, Russia and Poland are now the strongest team in Europe in swimming.”

It was the first time Otylia has had success in a small pool since the swimmer is used to 50 metre Olympic pools. In her final swim, Otylia swum according to her saying – to swim the first part of the distance using her head, and to put her heart into the second part of the swim.
The world record proves that Otylia has completely recovered after the car accident in fall of last year which caused her to abstain from swimming for a few months.
Back to Andrzej Person:

“I think it’s over because it’s 1,5 years after this accident. She lives in my town Włocławek with parents, I have met her a few times in the past six months, and I think she’s in very good physical shape and I think she will be the main favorite in Melbourne and in Beijing.”

Polish fans have no doubt that our swimmers will keep up their performance in March 2007 in Melbourne. Everything is so far going in the right direction. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed.
Source: polskieradio.pl