Robert Korzeniowski of Poland wins the 50km Walk (© Getty Images)
”My life as an athlete has come to an end and that capped it. I am fulfilled,” announced Robert Korzeniowski after cementing his legendary status by winning his third straight Olympic 50km Race Walking gold medal at Athens.
Korzeniowski didn’t rest on his laurels though; there was the final league 5000m track race for his AWF Krakow club two weeks later.
On 26 September he walked another sub-40 minute 10km for victory at the 6th Pino Dordoni International at Piacenza, Italy and this was a fitting occasion for the four-time Olympic champion to end a 20 year odyssey.
Korzeniowski now has a totally new career ahead.
Back to the Beginning
Race walking was popular in the part of southeast Poland where Korzeniowski grew up however for the 13-year-old Bruce Lee fan who wanted to take part in a sport after a bout of rheumatic illness, Judo was the first choice.
Unfortunately, during the state of emergency the authorities weren't happy with boys learning to fight so the school gym was shut down. So Korzeniowski joined the school track and field team, at first to run.
In January 1984 he was invited take part in his first walk, taking third to qualify for the Polish championships. There he came last but resolved to do better - and the next year he won!
Steady progress followed, and a breakthrough came in finishing fourth in the 20km at the 1990 European Championships in Split.
This convinced him to become a full-time athlete but top level success eluded him and, furthermore, he faced the indignity of disqualifications in the 1992 Olympics and in the 1993 World Championships.
”I had a big beginning but I was naive - I had no knowledge and was arrogant,” he admitted. “My training was haphazard and I was often over-trained and injured.”
A realisation came after these disappointments, however, and with his coach Kryzsztof Kisiel, Korzeniowski worked on technique and a new attitude.
“I learned to take on board criticism. Another important thing for me was moving to France. I also read up on the theories of training and learned to be patient.”
This new self-awareness was rewarded as Korzeniowski claimed the bronze medal at the 1995 IAAF World Championship 50km. From then on he won all but one World, Olympic and European Championship race at the distance over the next decade.
Supervising the field
Unusually for a 50km specialist, Korzeniowski has the speed to compete with the best at 20km - providing an important psychological edge over his rivals over the longer distance. Korzeniowski dominated the event like no one before - he would, as he said “supervise” races, at his pace.
The foundation of this confidence was thorough preparation. Indeed, he once chided an underperforming fellow competitor by saying “for the well prepared athlete, there is no such thing as an off day.”
The high point in his career came at the Sydney Olympics, in becoming the first walker ever to sweep the 20km and 50km races, and the first to defend a 50km title.
A measure of his consistency is Korzeniowski‘s fifteen consecutive Polish 20km titles. He also won the inaugural IAAF World Race Walking Challenge in 2003 - a global series of races, which he retained this year.
Athens - the final Act
Having been pushed to a World Record to win in the World Championship 50km last year, and expecting fierce heat, Robert decided to concentrate on the 50km in Athens. In the event, his younger rivals failed to match his pace and he achieved his biggest winning margin in a major championship race.
Future TV executive
Such is Robert Korzeniowski's profile in Poland that from the beginning of November he is to take up the post of head of sport for State Television station TVP. He has said he would like to launch a sports channel.
He’s also promised to continue promoting walking and athletics.
Whatever direction he takes, you can be sure he will be planning a route towards success.
Tim Watt for the IAAF
Championship Record
Olympic Games
1992 20km - DNF, 50km – DQ
1996 20km - 8, 50km – 1
2000 20km - 1, 50km – 1
2004 50km - 1
IAAF World Championships
1991 20km - 10, 50km – DNF
1993 50km – DQ
1995 50km – 3
1997 50km – 1
1999 50km – DQ
2001 50km – 1
2003 50km – 1
EAA European Championships
1990 20km – 4
1994 20km - DQ 50km – 5
1998 50km – 1
2002 50km – 1
IAAF World Cups
1989 20km – 40
1991 20km – 7
1993 20km – 4
1995 20km – 9
1999 20km – 4
2004 20km – 2
EAA European Cup
1996 20km – 1
1998 20km – 2
2000 20km – 1
World University Games
1991 20km – 1
1993 20km – 1
European Junior Championship
1987 10km – DQ
World Indoor Championship
1993 5000m - 2
World Record
50km Walk - 2003 Saint-Denis, FRA 3:36:03
Olympic Record
20km Walk - 2000 Sydney, AUS 1:18:59
Racing Record and Progression
Year Races Wins Best 20km Best 50km
1984 6 0 51:04 (10km)
1985 10 2 46:44 (10km)
1986 12 10 1:32:33
1987 9 4 1:29:40
1988 12 4 1:26:04
1989 11 4 1:23:19
1990 15 9 1:19:32
1991 14 6 1:21:19
1992 16 12 1:19:14 3:46:42
1993 18 12 1:20:55 3:44:24
1994 15 9 1:20:55 3:45:57
1995 13 9 1:20:52 3:45:57
1996 13 9 1:20:51 3:42:40
1997 12 10 1:19:43 3:44:46
1998 14 11 1:19:36 3:43:51
1999 15 10 1:18:39
2000 14 12 1:18:22 3:41:50
2001 15 11 1:20:31 3:42:08
2002 14 9 1:19:40 3:36:39
2003 16 11 1:19:11 3:36:03
2004 17 12 1:19:02 3:38:46