Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak

Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak won 13 Polish National Championships titles in long distances and cross-country events. Krzyszkowiak rose onto the international athletics scene at the 1956 Olympics, where he missed the bronze medal by 7.4 seconds, placing fourth. At the 1958 European Championships, Krzyszkowiak established himself as one the best European long-distance runners, winning both the 5 and 10K. Just two months before the Rome Olympics, Krzyszkowiak ran his first world record, clocking 8:31.4 in the steeplechase. At the Olympics itself, Krzyszkowiak finished seventh in the 10,000, but won, as expected, the 3,000 steeplechase. After the Olympics Krzyszkowiak concentrated only on the steeplechase, running his second world record in 1961, but was forced to retire prematurely in 1963 due to injuries. After his running career Krzyszkowiak worked as an athletics coach.

Personal Bests: 10000 – 28:52.75 (1960); 3000S – 8:30.4 (1961).