Polish athlete receives Japanese distinction
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
01.02.2017 14:55
Polish athlete Irena Szewińska has been given one of the highest Japanese distinctions, the Order of the Rising Sun, by the Japanese ambasador in Warsaw, Shigeo Matsutomi.
Irena Szewińska. Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski.
“I sincerely thank the Japanese emperor, prime minister and ambassador for this honourable distinction,” the seven-time Olympic medallist said.
The Japanese embassy in Warsaw said in a statement last year that ever since Szewińska took part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, she maintained close contacts with Japanese sportsmen and made an active contribution to the development of friendly relations between the two countries.
As a member of the International Olympic Committee, Szewińska played a key role in 2014 in organizing Polish events marking the 50th anniversary of the Tokyo games.
It was in Tokyo in 1964 that Szewińska, then 18, rocketed to international fame after winning three Olympic medals: a silver in the long jump and 200 metres, and gold as part of the Polish 4x100m relay team.
In later years, she added four more Olympic medals to her tally, becoming the fastest female runner of her time. She also scored spectacular successes in the long jump.
Among other recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun is the late Polish film director Andrzej Wajda. (vb/pk)
Source: IAR