Kamila Skolimowska
Encyclopedia
Kamila Skolimowska (4 November 1982 – 18 February 2009) was a Polish hammer throw
er. She was known for her gold medal in the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
, which made her the youngest Olympic hammer champion, as well as for her two medals from the European Championships
. Her personal best throw, and Polish record
, was 76.83 metres, achieved in May 2007 in Doha. She died on the 18 February 2009 in Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal
during a Polish national team training camp.
. Skolimowska first made herself known at age fifteen, when she won the hammer throw
event at the 1997 European Junior Championships; the first time hammer throw was staged at the European Junior Championships. She was actually fourteen years and 264 days at the time, and had become Polish national champion and record
holder the year before. Her personal best in 1997 was 63.48 metres. She improved her personal best to 66.62 metres in 1999. She also finished seventh at the 1998 European Championships
, won the 1999 World Youth Championships
and finished twenty-first at the 1999 World Championships
.
she won a gold medal
in the hammer throw, with a new personal best throw of 71.16 metres. She won the gold medal after favourite Mihaela Melinte
was disqualified for failing a drugs test. At age 17 years and 331 days, Skolimowska became the youngest Olympic hammer champion. As it was the first time that the women's hammer throw was staged at the Olympics, she also set an Olympic record, which stood for four years. She received the Polish Golden Cross of Merit for her achievement.
in Edmonton, with a throw of 68.05 metres. One month later she improved her national record to 71.71 metres, which was enough to win the IAAF Grand Prix Final in Melbourne. In 2002 she took her first championships medal since the Olympic victory, at the 2002 European Championships
. Throwing 72.46 metres to take the silver medal behind Olga Kuzenkova
, she almost improved on her 72.60 result achieved in June in Bydgoszcz. Toward the end of the season she finished fifth at the 2002 World Cup
.
Skolimowska did not set new national records in 2003 and 2004. In 2003 she finished eighth both at the 2003 World Championships
and the 2003 World Athletics Final
. In the final round of the hammer throw at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
she recorded a season best of 72.57 metres, placing fifth overall in the event. She again finished fifth at the 2004 World Athletics Final
.
, four days after finishing seventh at the 2005 World Championships
. At the 2005 World Athletics Final
she finished second. In 2006 Skolimowska improved her national record again; to 75.29 as she won the 2006 World Cup
meet in September in Athens. The record crowned a successful year, with a bronze medal at the 2006 European Championships
and a second place at the 2006 World Athletics Final
earlier in the season. In 2007 Skolimowska improved with more than a metre, throwing 76.83 in May at the Super Grand Prix meet in Doha. She finished fourth at both the 2007 World Championships
and the 2007 World Athletics Final
.
2008, however, was an unsuccessful year. Her season's best was only 73.50, achieved in June in Warsaw. In the Olympic competition
, she did progress from the qualifying round, but failed to register a valid mark in the final, ending in last place.
. Concerns were raised that the problem could have been detected earlier if a doctor had been accompanying the team.
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
er. She was known for her gold medal in the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, which made her the youngest Olympic hammer champion, as well as for her two medals from the European Championships
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
. Her personal best throw, and Polish record
Polish records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Poland maintained by its national athletics federation: Polski Związek Lekkiej Atletyki .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:# = not recognised by federation-External links:* * * * *...
, was 76.83 metres, achieved in May 2007 in Doha. She died on the 18 February 2009 in Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
during a Polish national team training camp.
Early life and career
She was born in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Skolimowska first made herself known at age fifteen, when she won the hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
event at the 1997 European Junior Championships; the first time hammer throw was staged at the European Junior Championships. She was actually fourteen years and 264 days at the time, and had become Polish national champion and record
Polish records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Poland maintained by its national athletics federation: Polski Związek Lekkiej Atletyki .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:# = not recognised by federation-External links:* * * * *...
holder the year before. Her personal best in 1997 was 63.48 metres. She improved her personal best to 66.62 metres in 1999. She also finished seventh at the 1998 European Championships
1998 European Championships in Athletics
The 17th European Athletics Championships were held from 18 August to 23 August 1998 in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary.-Track:1990 |1994 |1998 |2002 |2006 |-Field:1990 |1994 |1998 |2002 |2006 |-Track:1990 |1994 |1998 |2002 |2006 |-Field:...
, won the 1999 World Youth Championships
1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics was the first edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 16 to July 18, 1999.-Boys:-Girls:-Medals table:...
and finished twenty-first at the 1999 World Championships
1999 World Championships in Athletics - Women's Hammer
These are the official results of the Women's Hammer Throw event at the 1999 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Seville, Spain. There were a total number of 21 participating athletes, with the final held on Tuesday 24 August 1999 at 18:00h....
.
Olympic champion
At the 2000 Summer OlympicsAthletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, 46 events in athletics were contested, 24 for men and 22 for women. There were a total number of 2134 participating athletes from 193 countries.-Men's events:...
she won a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the hammer throw, with a new personal best throw of 71.16 metres. She won the gold medal after favourite Mihaela Melinte
Mihaela Melinte
Mihaela Melinte is a Romanian hammer thrower. She holds the world junior record, and with 76.07 metres she held the world record until Tatyana Lysenko beat it in July 2005...
was disqualified for failing a drugs test. At age 17 years and 331 days, Skolimowska became the youngest Olympic hammer champion. As it was the first time that the women's hammer throw was staged at the Olympics, she also set an Olympic record, which stood for four years. She received the Polish Golden Cross of Merit for her achievement.
Career after the Olympic gold
In the 2001 season, she finished fourth at the 2001 World Championships2001 World Championships in Athletics
The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 August and 12 August and was the first time the event had visited North America...
in Edmonton, with a throw of 68.05 metres. One month later she improved her national record to 71.71 metres, which was enough to win the IAAF Grand Prix Final in Melbourne. In 2002 she took her first championships medal since the Olympic victory, at the 2002 European Championships
2002 European Championships in Athletics
The 18th European Athletics Championships were held from 6 August to 11 August 2002 in the Olympic Stadium of Munich, Germany.-Track:1994 |1998 |2002 |2006 |2010 |...
. Throwing 72.46 metres to take the silver medal behind Olga Kuzenkova
Olga Kuzenkova
Olga Sergeyevna Kuzenkova is a Russian athlete, the first woman to throw the hammer more than 70 meters.She won gold in the women's hammer throw event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.She trained with Aleksandr Seleznyov.-Notes:...
, she almost improved on her 72.60 result achieved in June in Bydgoszcz. Toward the end of the season she finished fifth at the 2002 World Cup
2002 IAAF World Cup
The 9th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was hosted by Madrid, September 21–22, 2002, in the Estadio La Peineta...
.
Skolimowska did not set new national records in 2003 and 2004. In 2003 she finished eighth both at the 2003 World Championships
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
and the 2003 World Athletics Final
2003 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 1st IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Stade Louis II, in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 13 September and 14 September 2003.The hammer throw event for men and women had to take place in Szombathely, Hungary a week previous as the Monaco stadium was not large enough to hold the event.One of the...
. In the final round of the hammer throw at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's Hammer Throw
The Women's Hammer Throw event at the 2004 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics program was held at the Athens Olympic Stadium August 23 and August 25...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
she recorded a season best of 72.57 metres, placing fifth overall in the event. She again finished fifth at the 2004 World Athletics Final
2004 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 2nd IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Stade Louis II, in Monte Carlo, Monaco on September 18, and September 19, 2004.The hammer throw event for men and women had to take place in Szombathely, Hungary a week previous as the Monaco stadium was not large enough to hold the event.One of...
.
New records
In July 2005 Skolimowska improved her national record to 74.27 metres, the result being achieved in Madrid. Exactly one month later she won the gold medal at the UniversiadeAthletics at the 2005 Summer Universiade
The athletics competition in the 2005 Summer Universiade was held on the İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu in İzmir, Turkey, between 15 August and 20 August 2005.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics* - FIBU...
, four days after finishing seventh at the 2005 World Championships
2005 World Championships in Athletics - Women's Hammer Throw
The Women's Hammer Throw event at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on August 10 and August 12...
. At the 2005 World Athletics Final
2005 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 3rd IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Stade Louis II, in Monte Carlo, Monaco on September 9, and September 10, 2005.The hammer throw event for men and women had to take place in Szombathely, Hungary on September 3 as the Monaco stadium was not large enough to hold the event.- Medal...
she finished second. In 2006 Skolimowska improved her national record again; to 75.29 as she won the 2006 World Cup
2006 IAAF World Cup
The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece....
meet in September in Athens. The record crowned a successful year, with a bronze medal at the 2006 European Championships
2006 European Championships in Athletics
The 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
and a second place at the 2006 World Athletics Final
2006 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 4th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 9 and September 10, 2006.-Results:-External links:*...
earlier in the season. In 2007 Skolimowska improved with more than a metre, throwing 76.83 in May at the Super Grand Prix meet in Doha. She finished fourth at both the 2007 World Championships
2007 World Championships in Athletics - Women's hammer throw
The Women's Hammer Throw event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics took place on August 28, 2007 and August 30, 2007 at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan...
and the 2007 World Athletics Final
2007 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 5th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 22 and September 23, 2007.-Men:- Women :-External links:*...
.
2008, however, was an unsuccessful year. Her season's best was only 73.50, achieved in June in Warsaw. In the Olympic competition
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's hammer throw
The Women's Hammer Throw event at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 18–20 August at the Beijing National Stadium.The qualifying standards were 69.50 m and 67.00 m .-Medalists:-Schedule:...
, she did progress from the qualifying round, but failed to register a valid mark in the final, ending in last place.
Death
Skolimowska died unexpectedly at the age of 26 during a training session in Portugal. The cause of her death (originally reported in many media as likely a heart attack) was confirmed by autopsy to be pulmonary embolismPulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
. Concerns were raised that the problem could have been detected earlier if a doctor had been accompanying the team.