Polish Post Cup on September 3, 2022

Franciszek Szyszka and Katarzyna Zdzieblo they were the special guests of the 56th Polish Post Cup in Gdańsk. The International Walking Festival was once again an opportunity to see the country’s best athletes in action. Born in 1934, former AZS and Lechia runner Franciszek Szyszka repeatedly won medals in the Polish 10, 20 and 30 km championship. In 1959, it was in Gdańsk that he won two medals (gold in the 10 km and silver in the 20 km). Katarzyna Zdziebło, the new star of Polish fitness walking, newly arrived vice-world champion over 20 and 35 km and vice-champion of Europe over 20 km, also recorded valuable results in Gdańsk. It should be noted that in 2015 she set the Polish junior record for 20 km on the streets of the capital of Pomerania.

On Saturday September 3, 2022, Zdziebło performed as a fan in the Polish Post Cup. More than a week earlier, she had informed via social media that she had suffered a fracture to one of her left ribs and would have a break from starts. In Gdańsk, the tenth walker of the Tokyo Olympics supported her sister Anna. That sister cheer proved effective, as the Stal Mielec youngest won the 20km walk in the U-23 category with a time of 1 hour 45 minutes and 19 seconds. It is in the categories up to 20 and 23 years at the distance of 20 km that the competition had the rank of Polish championship. Anna Zdzieblo she therefore became the new national champion. In men, the gold went to Łukasz Niedziałek (WLKS New Iganie) and the result is 1:29.18. In the younger group (U-20), they won the league titles Magdalena Zelazna (AZS-AWF Gorzów Wielkopolski, 1:45.52) and Kamil Piecuch (LKS Stal Mielec, 1:39.12).

In the 10 km fitness walk, the women won Olga Niedziela (WLKS Nowe Iganie), the fifth competitor of the recent 35 km European Championships. She clocked 47 minutes and 6 seconds. She passed the best walker in Tri-City Agnieszka Ellward (WKS Flota Gdynia) – 48.34. The men of the open formula competed over the distance of 20 km. Here he was the best Artur Brzozowski (KKL Stal Stalowa Wola), and his time is 1 hour, 28 minutes and 15 seconds.

For years, the Polish Post Cup competition has been dedicated to the memory of the defenders of the Polish Post in Gdańsk. Right next to the monument “Why the Polishness of Gdańsk” there is a stand prepared by the Museum of the Second World War. Fans and residents could see educational material there related to the history of the Polish II Corps and the profiles of the athletes fighting in its ranks. Furthermore, in connection with the temporary exhibition inaugurated in July, “Strength in sport. The history of KS Gedania”, the athletics section operating within the club, in which mainly running was trained, was presented.