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Polish athletes aim for Olympic glory as Milan-Cortina Games open

06.02.2026 23:45
Polish athletes are hoping to make their mark at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which opened in Italy on Friday with a ceremony celebrating the host country's history and culture.
Photo:
Photo:EPA/NEIL HALL

Three-time Olympic ski jumping champion Kamil Stoch and speed skater Natalia Czerwonka, a silver medallist at the 2014 Games, served as flag bearers for the Polish delegation at the opening ceremony.

As the 60-strong Polish team begins competition, expectations remain modest following the country's performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where Poland won one medal.

Officials say any improvement on that result would be a source of national pride, though some sports figures argue Poland could achieve its strongest showing since the 2014 Sochi Games, when it won a record six medals—four gold, one silver and one bronze.

Poland’s sports minister has said he will celebrate every medal won at the Milan-Cortina Games, expressing particular optimism about the country’s speed skaters.

Among the biggest medal hopes is speed skater Damian Żurek, who recently won two European titles and claimed multiple World Cup podium finishes.

Other leading contenders include snowboarder Aleksandra Król-Walas and alpine skier Maryna Gąsienica-Daniel.

Poland is represented in 12 of the 16 sports on the Olympic programme, with no entries in ice hockey, curling, freestyle skiing or skeleton.

Athletes who win gold medals are eligible for a generous rewards package that includes more than including more than PLN 1 million (EUR 240,000) in cash, a car and an apartment, according to officials.

Poland won two medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, finishing 20th overall.

(gs)

Source: TVP Sport, IAR, PAP