Stanisław Świętochowski

Stanisław Świętochowski was an accomplished Polish track and field athlete who ran in distances from 100 metres to 800 metres. Świętochowski’s athletics career spanned from 1921 to 1924 and he won three national titles, set six Polish records, and competed at the Paris Olympics. He won his first medals at the Polish championships in 1921 with bronze in both the 100 and 400 metres. The following year saw him win gold in the 400 metres and 800 metres, along with a bronze in the long jump. Świętochowski won his third and final national title in 1923 with victory in the 4 x 100 metres relay. In 1924 he ran in the 400 metres at the Paris Olympics but did not progress from the heats.

Świętochowski retired from sport almost immediately following the Olympics and worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there he worked at consulates in both France and Germany and graduated with a law degree. With the outbreak of World War II he was ordered to evacuate from the Ministry but was ultimately arrested by the Soviet NKVD. Following periods of imprisonment in Stanisławów and Kozielsk, Świętochowski was executed in December 1940.

Personal Best: 400 – 53.1 (1922).