Elzbieta Krzesinska

Elżbieta Krzesińska was one of the most outstanding Polish athletes, specializing in long jump. She competed for her native country at three Olympic Games, winning the gold medal in Melbourne in 1956 and the silver medal in Rome in 1960. She also won two European Championships medals and three Universiade medals. She set the world record in long jump twice, reaching 6.35 m in 1956. She also excelled in other disciplines, such as high jump and hurdles. She was known for her characteristic long blond braid, which caused her some trouble at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, when the judges measured her jump from the mark left by her hair rather than her body. She was nicknamed "Golden Ela" by her fans and the media. She was married to Andrzej Krzesiński, a pole vaulter and Olympian, who was also her coach. After retiring from sports, she worked as a dentist. She lived in the United States from 1981 to 2000, then returned to Poland. She died on December 29, 2015 after a long illness. She was buried at the Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. She was honored with many awards and distinctions, such as the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Olympic Order, and the Star of Sport. She was also inducted into the Polish Olympic Committee Hall of Fame and the IAAF Hall of Fame.