10-time world record holder and Olympic gold medalist sprinter dead at age 72

By The Wildcard June 30, 2018 at 5:28am

A sprinter who dominated women’s athletics for two decades, winning seven Olympic medals, has died at the age of 72.

Irena Szewinska’s husband and former coach, Janusz Szewinski, said she died shortly before midnight Friday in a Warsaw hospital after a battle with cancer.

Olympic Gold Winning Sprinter Irena Szewinska Dies at 72 — Polish Irena Szewinska (center), gold medal, Christina Brehmer (right-silver) and Ellen Streidt (bronze), both from DDR, pose on the Olympic Montreal 400m women’s podium in September 1976. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

In its reports, the Polish news agency PAP on Saturday described her as the most famous athlete in Polish sports history.

Polish President Andrzej Duda remembered her as the “First Lady of Polish Sport,” saying her death was “a great loss and great sadness.”

Quote from IOC President Thomas Bach on the death of Irena Szewinska, IOC Member in Poland: pic.twitter.com/k9YlWhT4r8

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 30, 2018

Szewinska competed in five Olympics, winning gold medals in the 400-meter relay in 1964, in the 200 meters in 1968 and in the 400 meters in 1976.

She was a 10-time world record holder in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races.

Irena Szewinska Passes Away at Age 72 — July 1976: Irena Szewinska of Poland wins the 400m at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. Credit: Tony Duffy/Allsport

She was a true inspiration and known for her humility, kindness and generosity.

Our thoughts are with her family during this time of grieving.

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