Kowalczyk began skiing at the age of 10...in 2000 she started for the first time in the international circuit at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships...she competed in four Junior Worlds until 2003 in Sweden where she won the silver medal in sprint...already 2001 she made her World Cup debut in Cogne...in 2003 she raced for the first time at World Championships...she competed in all four World Championships since 2003 but the results from Oberstdorf 2005 were annulated later on due to the use of Deamethason.. in 2006 she captured her first podium placing third in Otepää over 10 km classic before winning the historical bronze medal at the Olympics in Torino over 30 km....her first World Cup victory followed in Otepää in 2007 ...the 2009 World Championships in Liberec where a great success for the Polish skier with two golds (Pursuit & 30km) and a bronze medal over 10 km classic... in the same year she also won the overall World Cup and defended this title again in 2010... before the Winter Olympic Games she proved her strength by winning the 2010 Tour de Ski... the sport student returned from the Vancouver Olympics with a complete medal set…in 2011 she could repeat her overall World Cup win and as well the Tour de ski title, at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships she could celebrate three medals.

Top Athlete About

… she is a real hard worker: Only 25 days rest of skiing after the season was at her schedule before she returned back on skis in Ramsau in May. Long training camps followed in Zkaopane, Otepää and New Zealand before she went back on glacier in September.

...she achieved a Master degree at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice and has a bother Tomasz and two sisters Wioletta and Ilona besides her parents Janina and Józef.

...she received the award of the athlete of the year 2009 and 2010 in Poland

...Kowalczyk is the first Polish Cross-Country skier that won a Olympic medal and the first who won the overall World Cup ranking

...Otepää is her favourite World Cup venue as it is the place where she captured her first World Cup podium and her first victory

…her real date of birth is 19th of January 1983 although in all official documents it says 23rd of January 1983 – therefore Justyna Kowalczyk could celebrate twice a year her birthday

 

	SKIS		Fischer
	BOOTS		Fischer