Jan Parandowski

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJan•Parandowski
Used nameJan•Parandowski
Born11 May 1895 in Lviv, Lviv (UKR)
Died26 September 1978 in Warszawa (Warsaw), Mazowieckie (POL)
NOC Poland
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Polish author, essayist, literature translator and writer Jan Parandowski earned a bronze medal for his work Olympic Discus at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the Art Competitions in the category Literature, Epic Works. He was best known for his works relating to classical antiquity, and he was also the President of the Polish PEN Club from 1933-78, with a break during World War II. His entire archive burnt down during the Warszawa Uprising. In 1913 he had begun his studies in the field of archeology and classical philology at the University of Warszawa, which were interrupted during World War I but continued through 1920. In 1922-24 he was a literary manager at the A. Altenberg publishing company, where he launched a series of translations from classical literature. In 1924-29 he studied in Greece, France and Italy, returning to Warszawa in 1929. Parandowski was a connoisseur of and promoted culture and ancient literature, and was a strong supporter of Renaissance humanism. In his novel Dysk Olimpijski he gives a vivid description of the Greek Festival in Olympia, highlighting both the glossy and the dark sides of sport. The book was published in Polish in 1933 and was translated into six languages, including German, in 1950.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Art Competitions POL Jan Parandowski
Literature, Epic Works, Open (Olympic) 3 Bronze