Where the mother left off, the daughter continued. The world of athletics first met Jolanta Bartczak, a former Olympic long jumper and bronze medalist at the 1988 European Indoor Championships. Her love for athletics paved the way for the emergence of a new star on the European athletics scene—her daughter, Pia Skrziszovska. Born on April […]
Where the mother left off, the daughter continued. The world of athletics first met Jolanta Bartczak, a former Olympic long jumper and bronze medalist at the 1988 European Indoor Championships. Her love for athletics paved the way for the emergence of a new star on the European athletics scene—her daughter, Pia Skrziszovska.
Born on April 20, 2001, Polish hurdler Pia Skrzyszowska has already made her mark. She claimed gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2022 European Championships and the 2021 European U23 Championships. She also earned silver in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 European U20 Championships.
A three-time Polish national champion, Pia set her personal best of 12.37 seconds in the 100m hurdles final at the 2024 European Championships, earning a bronze medal. She also secured bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow in the 60m hurdles.
Now, this rising Polish and European athletics star is headed to Belgrade, where she will compete at the Gold Belgrade Indoor Meeting on January 29 at the Athletics Hall. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belgrade Athletics Meeting, celebrated with its prestigious Gold status.
“Belgrade will host my first race of the 2025 season. My goal for the season is to chase personal bests, but I’m unsure what to expect from the first race. Still, I hope to pleasantly surprise myself,” said Pia.
What can we expect from Pia in the 2025 season, and what records is she aiming to break?
“My goal is to run faster than ever before. I am only 0.01 seconds away from the Polish records, both indoors and outdoors, which motivates me even more to push myself this season. Improving my personal bests is my main focus, and I believe it’s achievable with proper preparation.”
What’s the secret to your success?
“I believe the key to success is constant progress and always striving to improve. Together with my coach, I analyze my performances and work on finding areas where I can get better. One of our main goals is to perfect my hurdling technique for maximum efficiency.”
Which achievements are you most proud of?
“Every medal has a different story and meaning for me. However, if I had to choose, I’m most proud of the bronze medal from the World Indoor Championships. Winning that medal was the hardest due to the challenges I faced leading up to the competition.”
Are you excited about the Los Angeles Olympics?
“Yes, I’m excited about the Olympics, but I’m trying to focus on the present. My current priorities are the World Championships and the European Championships, which will take place multiple times before the next Olympics.”
What are Pia’s plans for the future? What dreams does she still aspire to achieve?
“I still have many goals to accomplish in athletics. One specific goal for this year is to reach at least the final of the World Championships in an individual event. But I have many other goals that I prefer to keep to myself for now.”
How do you prepare for major competitions? Are your training days meticulously planned?
“The key to preparing for major competitions is trust—trust in my coach, the training plan, and myself. My coach is responsible for designing a detailed training schedule to ensure I peak at the right time. I follow his plan step by step. If I’m physically prepared, the final part is mental preparation—confidence and faith in your training are essential.”
What advice do you have for young aspiring athletes?
“My advice is to always maintain some fun and enjoyment in the sport, even when it becomes a full-time job. Athletics is demanding, but it’s important to balance it with other passions and interests. This helps avoid burnout and keeps you motivated. Remember, success isn’t just about medals—it’s about the journey of personal growth.”
If you could start your career over, would you choose the same path?
“Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate about how my journey began. My first coach focused on my overall development, allowing me to explore many different events in athletics before specializing. I only focused on hurdles when I turned 18, and this approach helped me stay healthy and continue improving. If I had to start again, I would choose the same path because it provided the foundation I needed for long-term success,” concluded Polish hurdler Pia Skrzyszowska.
Viteška disciplina kraljice sportova, bacanje kugle na otvorenim borilištima i u dvorani, iznedrila je novog atletskog heroja Srbije od kojeg smo doživeli sjajne rezultate, ali čije vreme tek dolazi i od kojeg tek očekujemo nisku medalja i veliki rezulatata na međunarodnoj sceni. Seniorski rekorder u Srbije u bacanju kugle na otvorenim borilištima (21,88 m) i […]
Poslednji hitac na takmičarskoj sceni bacač kugle svetske klase, poznat po svojoj harizmi, osmehu, snazi, tehnici i doslednosti, trofejni div srpske atletike Asmir Kolašinac uputiće na „Gold Belgrade Indoor Meeting” 29. januara 2025. Atletska dvorana u Beogradu ugostiće svetske asove atletike, a Beogradski atletski miting na jubilarni 10. rođendan imaće prefiks zlatni, čime se naš […]