As of 2009, Poland has won only two Olympic speed skating medals, and both were won in the same race, when Elwira Seroczyńska (silver) and Helena Pilejczyk both medalled in the 1500 m at the 1960 Olympics. Born in present-day Lithuania, Seroczyńska was relocated to Elbląg when that part of Poland was annexed by the Soviet Union. There, she picked up speed skating, marrying fellow skater Jacek Seroczyński in 1955. Competing internationally between 1957 and 1964, her career highlights came at the 1960 Olympics and the 1962 World Allround Championships, when she won the 500 m in Imatra (Finland) and finished 9th overall. She was quite successful in Polish Championships, winning the around title five times (1952-1954, 1957, 1963) and an additional 17 distance titles in the 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m and relay. Retiring after the Innsbruck Games, Seroczyńska became a coach, and from 1971-1976 she trained the Polish national speed skating team. Later on, she worked as a coach for the Polish Badminton Association and became involved with running the Polish Olympians Society.
Personal Bests: 500 – 46.8 (1960); 1000 – 1:38.4 (1964); 1500 – 2:25.7 (1960); 3000 – 5:27.3 (1960).
Poland