The omnium is one of track cycling's most unpredictable events, featuring four separate races – the scratch, tempo, elimination and points - with riders collecting points in each.
After the first omnium race Pikulik was as far back as 14th. In the next event, however, she finished third, significantly improving her standing. Before the final race, she was in seventh place with 72 points, trailing the podium by 24 points.
Despite the odds and no one expecting her to still be in contention for success, the 27-year-old Pole surprised almost everyone by staging a remarkable performance, ultimately scoring 131 points.
Pikulik's is the tenth medal, and the fourth silver, won by Team Poland in Paris.
It also marks the 12th Olympic medal for Polish cycling, overall, whose tally now consists of eight silver and four bronze medals.
This outstanding achievement made a huge impression on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who promptly congratulated the athlete on social media.
„Daria Pikulik delivered a brilliant performance, winning silver on the last day of the Games”, Tusk wrote.
Providing a brief summary of Poland's entire medal haul at the Paris Games, Tusk quipped: "Polish women showed us what it means to fight! 8 medals for the women, 2 for the men."
American Jennifer Valente took gold finishing 13 points ahead of Pikulik, with New Zealand's Ally Wollaston securing bronze, six points further back.
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Source: PAP
