The silent hero of the Polish national team. Success in life thanks to a second chance
You had to wait 20 years for a Pole to appear in the final of the European Championships in the 100-meter race. This deadlock was broken by Dominik Kopeć, who became the fifth sprinter on the continent.
Dariusz Kuć competed for the last time in the 100 meters final of the European Athletics Championships. This took place in 2006. Ultimately, in the final battle, they took the 6th place. Dominik Kopeć not only broke the disastrous series of no Poles in the sprint finals, but also took a great 5th place.
At the same time achieving a time that he certainly cannot be ashamed of. On the contrary, considering the fact that Kopeć started… with virtually no warm-up, and at the last moment got a pass to the final of the European Championship 2026, this is a fantastic achievement.
Dominik Kopeć is a hero! The Pole’s personal success at the European Championships
The athlete, who usually defends the colors of Agros Zamość, achieved a result that is the best result by a Pole in the 100 meters in 44 years. In 1982, Marian Woronin won the bronze medal. Kopeć finally reached the finish line with a time of 10.29 seconds.
It is worth adding that initially it seemed that Kopeć would not run in the final, which the Pole missed at the finish line of the semi-final race by 0.02 seconds. Ultimately, however, an injury to one of his opponents opened up an opportunity for the Pole. And Kopeć, who is 31, took full advantage of it.
The Pole’s result was slightly overshadowed by the great success and European vice-championship, which Pia Skrzyszowska won in great style a few minutes earlier (100 m hurdles). But the athlete certainly deserved words of praise for what he achieved during the start in Birmingham.
Let us add that Kopeć is the bronze medalist of the European Championship 2022. However, we are talking about the 4×100 meters relay race.
Athletics European Championship for the Polish national team. In two years in Chorzów!
The Polish athletics team has been participating in the Old Continent championship since its first edition. That is, since 1934, when the competition was held at the Mussolini stadium in Turin.
Only men took part in the competition held in 1934. However, the first championship for women was held in 1938 in Vienna, and both sexes have been competing together since the event in Oslo in 1946.
How have Polish women and men presented themselves over the years? The most medals, as many as 10, were won by the late legend – Irena Szewińska – in sprinting and long jump. Second in this respect is Anita Włodarczyk (hammer throw), with five medals (four gold and one bronze).
Interestingly, the two best performances (in terms of medals won) in the history of athletics were recorded by ME Poland… exactly 60 years ago – during the event in Budapest (1966) and just four years ago, at the event in Munich (2022). There were 15 medals won on Hungarian soil, and in the capital of Bavaria the Polish national team had a total of 14 medals.
And in just two years, the European Athletics Championships will be held in Chorzów, at the legendary Silesian Stadium.
The European Athletics Championships 2026 will last until Sunday (i.e. August 16) inclusive. Broadcasts from the event can be followed on TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Sport.
