2004 Olympic gold medalist Otylia Jedrzejczak has officially retired, with the announcement being celebrated on Friday at the 2014 Polish National Championships in Olsztyn.
Jedrzejczak is one of the most successful swimmers in the history of Poland, and has held both the long course and short course 200 fly records in her outstanding career.
Her breakthrough began in 2000 when, at the age of 16, she was the European Champion in the 200 fly and the World Championship bronze medalist in a 25-meter pool of the same. The next year, she was a World’s silver medalist in the 100 fly in Fukuoka, and in 2003, she broke through with her first World title, the 200 fly.
The 2004 Olympics were the most successful meet of her career for the 6’1″ Jedrzejczak. There, she took gold in the 200 fly, silver in the 400 free, and another silver in the 100 fly. That was success in the three big events that she would medal in time-and-time again throughout her career.
Her Olympic gold medal total (3) matches the total of the entirety of other Polish Olympic swimmers combined.
Jedrzejczak, despite the level of success she had in winning that gold medal in 2004, is perhaps best-remembered for what she did with that gold medal. After winning, she held true to her pre-Olympic promise to auction off a gold medal if she won one to support a children’s leukemia charity. The medal went for around $82,000 (257,550 zlotys), which she donated to the Oncology and Hameatology Clinic of Wroclaw’s Children’s Hospital.
Shortly that singular act of selflessness and at the pinnacle of her career, Jedrzejczak hit the lowest point of her life. In 2005, when she was 21-years old, Jedrzejczak was the driver in a horrific car accident where she slammed into a tree and killed her 19-year old brother. Though she continued to have some success after the accident, including breaking the 200 SCM fly World Record in 2007, competitively she never fully recovered. She would swim at two more Olympic Games, and would final only once between them: a 4th-place finish in the 200 fly in Beijing in 2008.
But she has earned the respect from her teammates and Polish competitors as one of the true greats in that county, and as many referred to her on this day, a friend.
“Today my friend and Club teammate Otylia Jedrzejczak ended her career,” fellow Polish Olympian Pawel Korzeniowski said on his official Facebook page today. “I wish you all the best Oti on the new road of life..For me it was a huge honor to train with you through these so many years, and cheer you on the biggest sports events…Great respect for everything you have accomplished!”
We reached out to Jedrzejczak for comment, but as of posting have not received a response.
I think she was amazing. I felt really sorry for her during her accident.
I do remember, though, that in Montreal 2005 she touched the wall with only one hand in WR time of 2:05:61 clipping Jessica Schipper by 4/100s…. she wasn´t very gracious about that.
Among Jedreczak lowest points is in 2005 Montreal where she never admitted she touched the final pad with only one hand, denying Schipper’s her world title and first WR.
I couldn’t help but notice she actually did final in Beijing in the 200 butterfly and finished in fourth place with a time of 2:07.02 (behind Jessica Schipper of Australia), but did not final in London (as you said.) This article is very nice and truly captures the amazing swimmer and person she is!
You’re right, I missed that one. Corrected above – thanks for pointing it out!