Poland at the Olympics – Round Up

Aleksandra Klejnowska came 5th in the 2004 Olympics in the 58 kg weightlifting category and is now looking for a medal in Beijing. She recently won the European Championship so lets hope she can carry on her good run.

I look a little bit like this sat on the toilet the morning after a plateful of Kaszanka’s.

Aleksandra Klejnowska

Defending champion China beat back the challenging Poland 3-1 to clinch a second win. The 1.96-meter middle blocker Zhao Ruirui led the Chinese squad to upset the rivals 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-22 in the deafening cheers of more than 15,000 home fans. Zhao contributed the team 17 points while Polish wing spiker Katarzyna Skowronaska impressed the spectators by scoring the highest 26 points.

Poland V China - Olympic Volleyball

Natalia Partyka serves by nestling the pingpong ball in the crook of her arm, just above the stump, then tossing it into the air.

The 19-year-old, who was born with a right arm that ends just below the elbow, is part of the Polish team at the Beijing Olympics – and the first table tennis player ever to compete in both the Olympics and the Paralympics.

“I’m not thinking too much about that but it’s like a dream come true,” she said. “It’s a new beginning.”

The teen from the picturesque seaside city of Gdansk will return home this fall to begin college, where she will major in physical education. But she has big plans for the future.

“I always wanted to play table tennis and I love to play and I would like to play as long as possible,” she said, setting her sights on the individual and team events at the 2012 London Games.

Natalia Partyka

No medals yet, hopefully some on the way soon!