Władysław Kozakiewicz
 Kozakiewicz in 1980 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Polish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
8 December 1953 Šalčininkai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (181 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |
 Poland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Pole vault | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Bałtyk Gdynia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | Pole vault: 5.78 m (1980) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Władysław Kozakiewicz (born 8 December 1953) is a Polish pole vault jumper, and an Olympic champion at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Biography
Kozakiewicz was born to a Polish family in Šalčininkai, Lithuanian SSR near Vilnius, Lithuania, he broke the pole vault jumping world record three times, was European Indoor Champion in 1977 and 1979, Polish Champion ten times, and won a gold medal during the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
Kozakiewicz's gesture
In Poland, the Bras d'honneur became known as "Kozakiewicz's gesture" (gest Kozakiewicza).[2] Kozakiewicz made the gesture on 30 July 1980 to Russian spectators in the stadium during the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The crowd supporting Soviet jumper Konstantin Volkov booed, hissed, jeered, and whistled during Kozakiewicz's performance. Having just secured his gold medal position, Kozakiewicz made the gesture in defiance to the Soviet crowd. He later confirmed his dominance over the competition by breaking the world record, clearing at 5.78 meters.
The photos of this incident circled the globe, with the exception of the Soviet Union and its satellites, although the event was broadcast live on TV in many countries of the Bloc. While international observers varied in their reaction to the incident, Kozakiewicz's act received much support in Polish society, which resented Soviet control over Eastern Europe (Poland was in the midst of labor strikes that led to the creation of the labor union Solidarity less than two months later). After the 1980 Olympics ended, the Soviet ambassador to Poland demanded that Kozakiewicz be stripped of his medal over his "insult to the Soviet people".[3] The official response of the Polish government was that Kozakiewicz's arm gesture had been an involuntary muscle spasm caused by his exertion.
In 1985 Kozakiewicz immigrated to West Germany, where he twice won the national title and worked as a pole vault coach. After the fall of Communism, Kozakiewicz moved to Lithuania.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ Władysław Kozakiewicz makes a gesture towards booing and jeering Soviet crowds seconds after securing his gold medal in the 1980 Summer Olympics pole vault competition at the Lenin Grand Stadium, 30 July 1980.
- ↑ "Gest Kozakiewicza" (in Italian). sportvintage.it. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Władysław Kozakiewicz". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
External links
- Kozakiewicz at sporting-heroes.net
- Video of Kozakiewicz giving the gesture at the Moscow Olympics on YouTube
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by David Roberts |
Men's Pole Vault World Record Holder 11 May 1980 – 29 June 1980 |
Succeeded by Thierry Vigneron |
| Preceded by Philippe Houvion |
Men's Pole Vault World Record Holder 30 July 1980 – 20 June 1981 |
Succeeded by Thierry Vigneron |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Dave Roberts |
Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance 1977 |
Succeeded by Mike Tully |
| Preceded by Patrick Abada Philippe Houvion |
Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance 1980 |
Succeeded by Vladimir Polyakov |
Olympic champions in men's pole vault | |
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