Tadeusz Kwapień

Tadeusz Kwapień competed at three Winter Olympics for Poland in cross-country skiing and Nordic combined, being chosen to carry the Polish flag at the 1956 Cortina Winter Games. He started his career in 1945 with Wisła Zakopane. Kwapień competed at the 1958 World Championships in Lahti, placing 31st in the 15 km. for his best finish. He was an 18-time Polish champion on skis, winning the 18 km in 1952-53, the 14 km in 1954-57, at 30 km in 1951, 1954, and 1957; in on the winning relay team in 1946-49, 1952-53, and 1955-57. Kwapień also competed in track & field athletics, winning Polish titles in the 1,500 in 1959 and the 5K in 1950. He was twice national runner-up in the 1,500, in 1947-48. He also competed at the 1949 Universiade, placing 8th in the 1,500 and 10th in the 5K.

Kwapień later became a ski coach. For his contribution to Polish sport, he received numerous awards: the 1958 Golden Cross of Merit, the 1986 Silver Medal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he was made a Distinguished Master of Sports, was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in Zakopane, and in 1966 he was made an Honorary Member of the Society of Sports Guards Wisła.

Personal Bests (Athletics): 1,500 - 4:05.0 (1950); 5K - 15:43.8 (1949).