Klemens Biniakowski

Klemens Biniakowski was a Polish track and field athlete who won multiple national titles in sprint events during the 1930s. Biniakowski won his first Polish title in 1928 with victory in the 400 metres. He then won six more national titles in the event (1930–35) and five titles in the 200 metres (1930, 1932–35). Along with his individual success he also won multiple relay titles with wins in the 4 x 100 metres (1931, 1935) and the 4 x 400 metres (1931–35). During this time he set more than a dozen national records including becoming the first Polish athlete to run the 400 metres in under 50 seconds.

Biniakowski ran in the 400 metres and the 4 x 400 metres relay races at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics but did not advance from the heats in either race. He returned to the Olympics for the 1936 Berlin Games where he once again ran in the 4 x 400 metres relay. He also had the honour of being the flagbearer for Poland at the Opening Ceremony. In 1939 he fought in the September Campaign, with him then moving to Lithuania. He was then captured by the Germans and sent to the concentration camps in Sachsenhausen and Neuengame. He was liberated from the camp at the end of the war and dedicated the rest of his life to working with young athletes in Poland.

Personal Best: 400 – 48.8 (1934).