Celina Jesionowska (later names Gerwin and Orzechowska, born 3 November 1933 in

Łomża Łomża (), in English known as Lomza, is a city in north-eastern Poland, approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) to the north-east of Warsaw and west of Białystok. It is situated alongside the Narew river as part of the Podlaskie Voivodeship si ...

) is a Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 and 200 metres and, during the last part of her career, in the 400 metres. She competed for Poland in the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

held in

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, in the 4 x 100 metres where she won the bronze medal with her team mates Teresa Wieczorek, Barbara Janiszewska and Halina Richter. Jesionowska also competed in three European Championships: * 1954 in

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, where she was eliminated in the 100 metres semi-finals, and took fifth place in the 4 x 100 metres relay with her team mates Marią Ilwicką, Barbarą Lerczak and Marią Kusion. * 1958 in

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, where she won the bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay with the same team, and reached the semi-finals in the 200 and 100 metres. * 1966 in

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, where she was eliminated in the first round qualifiers for the 100 metres. Throughout her career, Jesionowska was a competitor with the Central Military Sports Club "Legia" Warsaw (CWKS "Legia" Warsaw), through which she attained seven Polish championships: * 400 metres - 1964, 1965 and 1966. * 4 × 100 metres relay - 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960.

Cultural influence

In 1976, Jesionowska appeared in an episode of the TV series '' The Way It Was'' which showcased the 1960 Summer Olympics, in which she gained her bronze medal.

Personal bests

Jesionowska's published personal bests include: * 100 metres - 11.8 seconds * 200 metres - 23.8 seconds * 400 metres - 55.4 seconds * 80 meters hurdles - 11.0 seconds * Long jump - 5.85 metres

References

1933 births Polish female sprinters Olympic bronze medalists for Poland Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes of Poland Living people People from Łomża European Athletics Championships medalists People from Białystok Voivodeship (1919–1939) Sportspeople from Podlaskie Voivodeship Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) Legia Warsaw athletes 20th-century Polish women Olympic female sprinters {{Poland-athletics-bio-stub