Damian Żurek was one step away from his dreams. Special words from the Pole for the fans

In sport at the highest level, sometimes you need a bit of luck. It seems that Damian Żurek may have missed this during his sprint starts at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Polish speed skater was going to the Apennine Peninsula as one of the main favorites for the medal. Ultimately, however, he finished fourth twice.

WINTER 2026: Damian Żurek about taking part in the Olympics. Beautiful words from a panczewist

This was the case the first time – during the 1000 meters competition – where the Pole was 0.07 seconds short of luck. Żurek, however, ran a distance that is not his crown, so one could hope for a medal in the 500 m.

Unfortunately, the scenario repeated itself again. The Pole went as far as he could. That day, the Olympians on the podium broke Olympic records and simply nothing more could be done.

However, Żurek hopes that this is not the end. And he will bring back better memories from the Olympics, but in four years.

– We missed it again, fourth place. It’s a pity, because no one will remember me for being fourth twice. I gave 100 percent, I showed as much as I could. I hope I haven’t disappointed anyone. I hope that my health will allow me in four years. And I’ll stand here, just with the puck around my neck. And there will be a completely different conversation (…) I am strong, I don’t give up and I will fight until the end – Żurek said in front of the Eurosport camera after Saturday’s start.

Let us add that in the case of Żurek, we are talking about an athlete who is currently 26 years old. Time will tell what exactly will happen in four years, especially since we are talking about professional sport at the highest level – where there are many variables in a career.

2026 Games in Italy. Where and when to watch the Poles’ starts?

The Polish national team during the opening games consists of 60 athletes. In the 21st century, there has never been a Polish woman or a Pole on the Olympic podium during the Winter Olympics. During the last winter games, Poland finished the competition with one medal. The bronze medal was won by ski jumper Dawid Kubacki in the competition on the normal hill.

It is already known that Kubacki’s result was beaten at the Winter Olympics 2026 by a debutant among Olympians – Kacper Tomasiak. The 19-year-old enormous talent won the silver medal in the normal hill competition in Predazzo.

Another Olympic runner-up, Vladimir Semirunni, who made his debut at the Winter Olympics, was also runner-up in the 10 km speed skating race.

In the history of the Olympic Games, the Polish team has won a total of 25 medals – seven gold, nine silver and nine bronze, respectively. Interestingly, the first bronze medal for Poland was won by Franciszek Gąsienica-Groń (Nordic combined) almost exactly 70 years ago, during the Olympic Games in… Cortina d’Ampezzo. This year, history has come full circle in a beautiful Italian-Polish Olympic circle.

Broadcasts from Winter Olympics 2026 in Poland are provided by Telewizja Polska (TVP) and the Discovery group (Eurosport). The event will last until Sunday, February 22.