The Olympic champion ended his career. Surprising words from a Pole at the end

Let us recall that Karol Zalewski formed the “golden team” in the final quartet with: Natalia Bukowiecka (then Kaczmarek), Justyna Święta-Ersetic and Kajetan Duszyński.

Karol Zalewski has ended his career! Surprising words from the Olympic champion

Zalewski started the Polish relay team in a memorable run for gold.

Three years later, after great success in Tokyo (2021), at the Olympic Games in Paris (2024), things were not so good. Poland took seventh place in the 4×400 meters relay in the qualifying round, even though it did not come close to the result from the capital of Japan.

“These were my third and I think not last Olympic Games. For me, being an Olympian is a path in which I intend to use the acquired experience in the future. Currently, I am trying to translate the acquired knowledge into the most effective preparation for the role of an athlete. In the future, this experience will help me develop on a professional path, perhaps as a coach?” – Zalewski wrote on Instagram.

However, as the future showed, almost two years later, the athlete decided to end his sports career. News about this topic appeared on one of the most reliable profiles dealing with Polish sport, namely Athletic News.

“Karol Zalewski ended his professional sports career – Olympic champion from Tokyo in the mixed 4×400 meters relay, indoor champion and world record holder in the men’s 4×400 meters relay (2018), two-time European U-23 runner-up in 200 meters, 20-time gold medalist of the Polish senior championships (100, 200, 400 meters – not everyone remembers that he started with short runs). sprints, and his oldest result in the PZLA database is the only official start in the long jump – 5.96 in 2008), European indoor vice-champion in the 4×400 meters relay (2015). His concentration on relay runs meant that he never went below 45 seconds in an individual start for 400 meters in his career (his personal best was 45.11 in the semi-final of the European Championships). 2018). Karol Zalewski has the best times in the history of Polish athletics in the 300 meters – 31.93 at the stadium and 32.60 in the hall. Thank you for these years of emotions! – we read on X.

Additionally, Zalewski himself spoke in WP/SportoweFakty, in a conversation with Mateusz Puka. As he admitted, he saw no reason to officially announce his departure from professional sports.

“I decided to end my career, but I didn’t announce it because I didn’t see the need (…) I know that there is a strange fashion of saying goodbye to athletes with flowers and hugs after the last race. However, I am not amused and not interested in it. I did not want such a farewell. Maybe I am different, but since I have not announced anywhere that I am starting my career, there is no need to say goodbye to me. Besides, I am staying with sports and I have no need to officially say goodbye,” said Zalewski.

As you can see, the athlete ended his career as a professional athlete on his own terms. Currently, Zalewski works as a personal trainer and also runs amateur running groups. He has not competed in official competitions since August 2025.