On this somber day, the Polish sporting community mourns the loss of Roman Korban, the oldest living Polish Olympian of the Summer Games, who breathed his last in Sydney. Born on May 23, 1927, Korban was a distinguished athlete affiliated with OMTUR Gdynia, Zryw Gdańsk, and Spójnia Gdańsk.
Korban represented Poland at the Helsinki 1952 Olympics, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s sporting history. Not only was he a two-time Polish champion in the 800m (1951 and 1952) and 1500m (1951) events, but he also achieved academic recognition as the vice-world champion in the 800m at the 1951 Academic World Championships in Berlin.
Beyond his achievements on the track, Korban was a prolific author, contributing extensively to literature on Polish sports abroad and Australia, where he had resided for many years. His passion for athletics and his experiences Down Under were reflected in the numerous books he authored.
In one of his final public appearances, captured in a photograph from the previous year at the alumni gathering of the AWF Warsaw (Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw), the institution he proudly graduated from, Korban’s legacy as a sportsman, author, and a bridge between nations is remembered.