Justyna KOWALCZYK

START OF THE SPORTING CAREER

• Justyna Kowalczyk began skiing at the age of 10
• She did track and field, played basketball and handball

CAREER

• In 2000 she started for the first time in the international circuit at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships
• Already in 2001 she made her World Cup debut in Cogne
• In 2003 she competed for the first time at World Championships
• The results from Oberstdorf 2005 were later annulated on due to the use of Dexamethasone
• In 2006 she won the first World Cup podium in Otepää in 10 km classic before winning the historical bronze medal at the Olympics in Torino in 30 km mass start classic
• First World Cup win followed in Otepää in 2007
• At the 2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec she took two gold medals (skiathlon and 30km) and a bronze medal in 10 km classic. In the same year she also won the overall World Cup and defended this title again in 2010
• Before the Winter Olympic Games 2010 she showed her strength and won 2010 FIS Tour de Ski
• The Polish ace returned from the Vancouver Olympics with a complete medal set. In 2011 she repeated the overall World Cup win and defended the FIS Tour de Ski title, at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships she could celebrate three medals, silver medals in 15 km Skiathlon, 10 km Classic and bronze medal in 30 km Mass Start Free
• In the 2011/12 season she was fighting all the way through with Marit Bjoergen for the Overall World Cup victory. Their duels made the season unforgettable. Kowalczyk had a slower start in the season but came back with a victory in Rogla and later dominated for the third time FIS Tour de Ski and edged out her archrival from Norway to second place. At the end of the season, however, Marit Bjoergen was little bit stronger and could celebrate the overall World Cup Victory
• Last winter Kowalczyk was again strong and took the fourth FIS Tour de Ski title
• FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme 2013 did not go as planned. Kowwalczk claimed one medal – silver in 30 km mass start classic
• At the end of the season Kowalczyk won the fourth big crystal globe for the Overall World Cup victory

PERSONAL

• Brother Tomasz and sisters Wioletta and Ilona
• She is master of physical education at the university of Katowice
• She continues the PhD. studies
• She became athlete of the year in Poland in 2009 and 2010
• Otepää is her favorite World Cup venue as it is the place where she captured her first World Cup podium and her first victory
• Her real date of birth is 19th of January 1983 although in all official documents it says 23rd of January 1983 – therefore Justyna Kowalczyk could celebrate twice a year her birthday
• Kowalczyk likes French and Russian literature. She reads Russian authors in original

NATIONAL FIRSTS

Justyna Kowalczyk is the first Polish Cross-Country skier that won an Olympic medal and the first who won the overall World Cup ranking

QUICK LINKS

Website: www.justyna-kowalczyk.pl/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kibicujjustynie