Helena Gąsienica Daniel

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameHelena•Gąsienica Daniel (-Lewandowska)
Used nameHelena•Gąsienica Daniel
Born15 April 1934 in Zakopane, Małopolskie (POL)
Died23 November 2013 in Zakopane, Małopolskie (POL)
Measurements160 cm / 55 kg
AffiliationsWisła Zakopane, Zakopane (POL)
NOC Poland

Biography

Helena Gąsienica Daniel was part of a real skiing family. Her three siblings all competed in skiing at the Winter Olympics. Sister Maria was an alpine skier at the 1956 and 1964 Olympics, brother Andrzej competed in ski jumping in Cortina d’Ampezzo and brother Józef placed 15th in the 1968 Nordic combined. Helena competed in cross-country skiing, winning a total of 10 Polish titles. Most of these came in the relay, as Wisla Zakopane grabbed the title eight times in a row 1954-61. In 1951 and 1952, aged just 16 and 17, she also won the Polish 10 km title twice. Her greatest international result came at the 1960 Winter Olympics, when the Polish team placed fourth in the 3 x 5 km relay (in a field of six entered teams) - she never competed in World Championships. Gąsienica Daniel married Wojciech Lewandowski, with whom she would run a car repair shop, selling her knitwear on the side.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) POL Helena Gąsienica Daniel
10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 24
1960 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) POL Helena Gąsienica Daniel
10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 21
3 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Poland 4

Olympic family relations