Polish kayaker Klaudia Zwolińska has earned a silver medal in the K1 slalom at the Paris Olympics, marking a historic achievement for Poland. This is the first Olympic medal for the country in this event since the Sydney Games 24 years ago.
Zwolińska showcased her expertise with a flawless run, completing the challenging course in 97.53 seconds. She was narrowly edged out by Australia’s Jessica Fox, the reigning world champion and event favourite, who claimed gold with a time of 96.08 seconds. The bronze medal went to Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods, who finished in 98.94 seconds.
This silver medal is particularly significant for Poland as it is only the second Olympic medal the country has won in canoe slalom kayak. The first was also a silver, achieved by Krzysztof Kołomański and Michał Staniszewski in the men’s C2 event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Polish President Andrzej Duda congratulated Zwolińska on her remarkable accomplishment. “After 24 years since Sydney, we have a silver medal in women’s K1 canoe slalom! Bravo!” he exclaimed.