Urszula Kuncewicz of Poland (© Artur Rolak)
Urszula Kuncewicz, Marika Popowicz and Sylwester Bednarek are the top names in the Polish team set to compete at the World Youth Championships in Marrakech.
Urszula Kuncewicz
Javelin
Born on 11 June 1988 in Gdansk
172 cm, 64 kg
She started athletics six years ago and has no family member in the sport. For the very first practice she was invited with her class mate.
“She was much more promising than me. I was just a little blond girl unable to throw a ball further than 20m,” Urszula mentioned.
Her club (Sambor Tczew) coach is Jaroslaw Langowski, she occasionally practiced also with Ewa Grecka, Aleksandra Reszczynska and – during national team camps – with Leszek Walczak and Mariusz Roszkowski.
Personal best: javelin – 50.23; shot (4kg) – 10.57; discus – 40.13; 100h – 15.03; high jump – 1.54.
National championships: U-16: 1st in discus, 2nd in javelin, 3rd in heptathlon. U-18: 2nd in discus and javelin.
Robert Korzeniowski is her sports idol. Javelin thrower to follow “obviously Oseidys Menendez. “Everyone would love to compete like her,” Urszula says.
She has no particular plans for Marrakech. She just wants to produce her best.
Marika Popowicz
100, 200 m
Born on 28 April 1988 in Gniezno
164 cm, 52 kg
In athletics since four years. She was discovered during cross country school competitions. At the age of 13 she moved from Gniezno (first capital of Poland) to Bydgoszcz (the “capital” of Polish track and field) to work with coach Jacek Lewandowski, former 400 m runner.
“My parents were a little anxious about this move but they agreed. My uncle, ex football player, lives in Bydgoszcz and he looks after me,” Marika explains. Her club is Zawisza Bydgoszcz, the venue of the 1st IAAF World Youth Championships in 1999.
Personal best: 100 m – 11.79; 200 m – 23.72; 400 m – 56.04.
Nine times U-16 and U-18 national champion on 100, 200, 300 and 4x400 m. National record holder: 300 m (U-16) – 39.26; 200 m (U-18) – 23.72 (outdoors) and 24.55 (indoors).
Robert Korzeniowski inspires her to hard work. “I’m very impressed how he can keep his motivation to win next gold after so many already won. He’s unbelievable,” she says.
Marika’s goal for Marrakesh is to run in the final. “It would be nice, very nice. World Championships finalist belongs to the World’s elite. And what in the final? We’ll see”.
Sylwester Bednarek
High Jump
Born on 28 April 1989 in Glowno
195 cm, 78 kg
First, but short, contact with athletics as a 11-year-old boy. After a three years break he is back at the field. His first coach was Tomasz Gaworski but from 2003 Sylwester works with Lech Krakowiak at RKS Lodz.
“I owe him a lot. There were no sport tradition in my family but I have their full support. I hope they are proud of me,” Sylwek says.
Personal best: high jump – 2.15 (indoors) and 2.12 (outdoors)
He equaled European U-16 record. Polish U-18 indoor record holder (2.15), twice national champion.
He has no particular sport idol to follow. He admires every athlete who is really good in his business and who likes what he does.
Sylwek is extremely happy he made the standard for Marrakech. “I hope sport is my future. Now I dream to win the title,” he discloses.
Artur Rolak for the IAAF
