Two of Poland’s biggest names are preparing for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in front of their home crowd in Sopot.
The double Olympic shot put champion Tomasz Majewski has been free of injury and is closing in on his top form after rigorous training. He intends to make the Polish event his main target for this coming season.
In his five previous World Indoor Championships, Majewski, 32, has only won two bronze medals. The fact that he is still missing this title will further fuel his motivation to perform well in Sopot.
At the 2012 London Olympic Games Majewski became the first shot putter to defend his title since American Parry O’Brien back in Melbourne in 1956.
This remarkable accomplishment is even more astounding considering he has never been crowned world champion, failing to even make the podium at the outdoor championships.
Fellow compatriot and indoor specialist Adam Kszcot will pursue a first world indoor title as well in the 800m event.
In 2012 he broke Pawel Czapiewski’s 10-year-old Polish indoor record with a brilliant time of 1:44.57, making him the third fastest 800m indoor runner ever.
Due to this performance Kszcot, 24, was among the favorites for the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, but finished in a disappointing fourth place.
He will be determined to improve his position on home soil, where the crowd will be expecting a lot from him.