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Polish Olympic show jumping champion dies

25.02.2020 12:45
Jan Kowalczyk, Poland’s only Olympic show jumping champion, has died in Warsaw after a serious illness at the age of 78.
Jan Kowalczyk, pictured in 1974.
Jan Kowalczyk, pictured in 1974.PAP/Zbigniew Matuszewski

Kowalczyk competed three times in the Summer Olympic Games: in Mexico in 1968, in Munich in 1972 and in Moscow in 1980.

In Moscow, he won Poland’s only Olympic gold medal in individual horse jumping. He also took home a team silver.

Born in 1941, he started competing at the age of 14. His riding career lasted from 1955 to 1991. He took part in equestrian events around the world and won 650 competitions.

He won the Polish national championship 17 times.

(jh/pk)

Source: PAP