Marian Woronin
Encyclopedia
Marian Jerzy Woronin (born August 13, 1956 in Grodzisk Mazowiecki
) is a retired Polish
athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres
. He is a four-time European Indoor Champion in the 60 metres
. He won nine Polish outdoor titles, and nine indoor titles.
His first major medal came at the 1978 European Athletics Championships, where he anchored the Polish 4×100 metres relay team of Zenon Nowosz
, Zenon Licznerski
and Leszek Dunecki
to the gold medal
in the event. He won the bronze in the 100 m at the 1979 IAAF World Cup
, running for Europe.
He competed for Poland in the 1980 Summer Olympics
held in Moscow, Soviet Union in the 100 and 200 he reached both finals finishing seventh in both sprints. In the 4×100 metres relay he won the silver medal
with his team mates Krzysztof Zwoliński
, Licznerski and Dunecki.
In 1981 he ran with the Polish/Europe sprint relay team that won the gold at the 1981 IAAF World Cup
in Rome. He won a bronze in the 100 metres at the 1982 European Athletics Championships.
His fastest time for the 100 m was 10.00 seconds, recorded in 1984 in Warsaw
with wind on the maximum allowable limit of 2.0 m/s. This was the European record for the event until Linford Christie
ran 9.97 sec at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Although Woronin's official timing read as 10.00 seconds, this was rounded up from 9.992 seconds – some claim this represents the first time that a Caucasian broke the 10-second barrier
in the event. He is one of only four individuals not of West African descent to run 100 metres in 10.00 s or less – the others being Koji Ito
of Japan (10.00 in 1998), Australian Patrick Johnson
(9.93 s in 2003) and Christophe Lemaitre
(9.92 in 2011), who is widely accepted as the first Caucasian to officially break the barrier.
Woronin's personal best in the 200 m was 20.49.
Grodzisk Mazowiecki
Grodzisk Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with 26,881 inhabitants in 2006. It is 30 km. southwest of Warsaw.Between 1975 and 1998 it was situated in the Warszawa Voivodeship but since 1999 it has been situated in the Masovian Voivodeship. It is the capital of Grodzisk Mazowiecki...
) is a retired Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
. He is a four-time European Indoor Champion in the 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
. He won nine Polish outdoor titles, and nine indoor titles.
His first major medal came at the 1978 European Athletics Championships, where he anchored the Polish 4×100 metres relay team of Zenon Nowosz
Zenon Nowosz
Zenon Nowosz is a Polish sprinter who participated in world athletics for Poland in the late 1960s and 1970s. He competed in the 60 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres....
, Zenon Licznerski
Zenon Licznerski
Zenon Licznerski was a Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres.He was Polish 100/200 metre champion in 1976, 77.He was a member of the Polish sprint relay team that won Gold in the European championship....
and Leszek Dunecki
Leszek Dunecki
Leszek Dunecki was a Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100/200 metres. He was polish champion on 6 occasions.He won a European Championship Gold medal in 1978 in the 4x100 metres....
to the 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 event. He won the bronze in the 100 m at the 1979 IAAF World Cup
1979 IAAF World Cup
The 2nd IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on August 24–26, 1979, at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.-Men:|width="50"| ...
, running for Europe.
He competed for Poland in the 1980 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics was represented by 38 events. They were held in the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium at Luzhniki between July 24 and August 1. There were a total number of 959 participating athletes from 70 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal...
held in Moscow, Soviet Union in the 100 and 200 he reached both finals finishing seventh in both sprints. In the 4×100 metres relay he won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
with his team mates Krzysztof Zwoliński
Krzysztof Zwolinski
Krzysztof Zwoliński was a Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres. He was a Polish 60 metre indoor champion in 1986....
, Licznerski and Dunecki.
In 1981 he ran with the Polish/Europe sprint relay team that won the gold at the 1981 IAAF World Cup
1981 IAAF World Cup
The 3rd IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on September 4–6, 1981, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.-Men:|width="50"| ...
in Rome. He won a bronze in the 100 metres at the 1982 European Athletics Championships.
His fastest time for the 100 m was 10.00 seconds, recorded in 1984 in Warsaw
Warsaw
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...
with wind on the maximum allowable limit of 2.0 m/s. This was the European record for the event until Linford Christie
Linford Christie
Linford Cicero Christie OBE is a former sprinter from the United Kingdom. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games...
ran 9.97 sec at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Although Woronin's official timing read as 10.00 seconds, this was rounded up from 9.992 seconds – some claim this represents the first time that a Caucasian broke the 10-second barrier
10-second barrier
The 10-second barrier is a term used in track and field athletics which refers to the physical and psychological barrier of completing the men's 100 metres sprint in under ten seconds...
in the event. He is one of only four individuals not of West African descent to run 100 metres in 10.00 s or less – the others being Koji Ito
Koji Ito
is a retired Japanese track and field sprinter. He is a former Asian record holder in the 100 metres and 200 metres, and still holds the indoor record as well as the 4×400 metres relay record....
of Japan (10.00 in 1998), Australian Patrick Johnson
Patrick Johnson (sprinter)
Patrick Johnson is an Australian athlete. He is the current Oceanian and Australian record holder in the 100 metres with a time of 9.93 seconds, achieved in Mito, Japan, on 5 May 2003. The time has made him the 17th fastest man in history at the time and 38th man to crack the 10-second barrier...
(9.93 s in 2003) and Christophe Lemaitre
Christophe Lemaitre
Christophe Lemaitre is a French sprinter, who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres. He is the French 100 m and 200 m record holder with a time of 9.92 seconds and 19.80 seconds as well as being the first caucasian to break the 10-second barrier in an officially timed event.At...
(9.92 in 2011), who is widely accepted as the first Caucasian to officially break the barrier.
Woronin's personal best in the 200 m was 20.49.
Indoor Success List
Marian Woronin won 50 or/and 60m final in the European Athletics Indoor Championships in:- 1979 in 6.57 s
- 1980 in 6.62 s
- 1981 over 50 m in 5.65 s
- 1982 in 6.61 s
- 1987 (in Lievin) in 6.51 s.
- He was 3rd in 1977.