Stanisław Gąsienica Sieczka

Stanisław Gąsienica Sieczka was a trained carpenter. He started skiing at an early age and won his first podiums at the 1924 Polish Championships in the cross-country relay and in his age division in jumping. In March 1925 he set a new Polish distance record under difficult conditions at the opening of the new Krokiew jumping hill. He bettered the record again in 1926 in Wengen and ultimately in 1927 in Nový Svet to 42.5 m. He even jumped 66 m in Pontresina but did not land properly and, therefore, the record was not approved. At the 1928 Winter Olympics, he was handicapped by a shoulder injury but still managed to become the best of the Polish jumpers. With his first jump of 58 m he set yet another Polish record, which only lasted weeks until he jumped 63 m. At his two World Championships he placed 13th in the jumping in 1927 and two years later in his hometown Zakopane 21st in Nordic combined and 38th in jumping. After the actual competition, he jumped 66 m setting his last national record.

After his competitive career, he appeared in two mountain movies by director Adam Krzeptowskiego and took care of his farm and carpenter’s workshop. After World War II, he worked in a ski factory in Zakopane. His son Roman was also a successful ski jumper and 1956 Olympian.