Janina Skirlińska

Janina Skirlińska was a Polish gymnast. As a young girl Skirlińska took up multiple sports including athletics, shooting, archery and fencing, but she found success in gymnastics. In the all-round event Skirlińska was a three-time national champion, winning titles in 1935, 1937 and 1938. In individual gymnastics competitions Skirlińska won 10 titles from 1935 to 1938. Skirlińska competed in the team all-round event at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The Polish team finished in sixth place.

After World War II Skirlińska worked as a gymnastics teacher and studied physical education at Jagiellonian University. Skirlińska graduated with a master’s degree in 1952 and gained her coaching qualifications the following year. For 11 years from 1949 Skirlińska coached the national gymnastics team and co-authored a book about guidelines and preparation in gymnastics for students. From 1957 to 1972 Skirlińska worked as a full-time research and teaching employee at the Department of Theory and Methodology of Gymnastics. In 1971 Skirlińska was awarded with the Knight’s Cross.