Poland is in with a chance of scooping about 10 medals, thanks to the likes of pentathlete Adrianna Sułek, 400m runner Anna Kiełbasińska and sprinter Ewa Swoboda, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
This is despite the absence, for health reasons, of the country’s fastest 400m runner Natalia Kaczmarek and especially the in-form hurdler Pia Skrzyszowska.
Sułek aiming for pentathlon gold
Sułek has been in fine form of late, breaking the Polish pentathlon record and topping the European rankings, the PAP news agency reported.
Her main rivals in Istanbul will be the Belgian duo of Nafissatou Thiam and Noor Vidts, who are yet to compete this season.
Sułek, runner-up at the 2022 world indoor championships, has vowed to aim for the gold in Istanbul, and maybe even a world record, according to PAP.
Kiełbasińska targeting 400m medal
Only two competitors in the women’s 400m event in Istanbul have run faster than Poland's Kiełbasińska this year, PAP reported.
She clocked 51.33 seconds in 2023 and, after an excellent previous season, is ready to challenge for a medal in Istanbul, according to officials.
Kiełbasińska told PAP: “I decided to continue my career and take up the challenge of competing at the Paris Olympics. But in the meantime I have a lot to do. I’ve always run well in indoor competitions and I remained in sport to aim for medals at the biggest events.”
Swoboda eyeing 60m podium spot
Swoboda will be seeking to return to the podium in the women’s 60m event, PAP reported.
She has already won gold at the 2019 European indoor championships in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2021, Swoboda missed the championships in Poland’s Toruń due to COVID-19.
She told PAP: “I hope to run faster and faster this season. I didn’t have time to train in-between events, so the period in the run-up to the European championships was much needed.”
Her main rival will be Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland, according to PAP.
Borkowski, Ennaoui, Szymański
Poland’s other medal prospects in Istanbul include Mateusz Borkowski in the men’s 800m, Sofia Ennaoui in the women’s 1,500m, and Jakub Szymański in the men’s 60m hurdles.
The 2023 European Indoor Athletics Championships start on Thursday and run until Sunday, the PAP news agency reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, istanbul2023.org, dziennik.pl