Grażyna Józefa Rabsztyn (; born September 20, 1952, in

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

) is a retired

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...

hurdler Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. In the early 19th century, hurdlers ran at and jumped over each hurdle (sometimes known as 'burgles'), landing on both feet and checking their forward motion. Today ...

. She represented her country at the

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics or the Games of the Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, then part of the King ...

on three occasions (1972–1980) and was a finalist each time (twice placing fifth). Rabsztyn set three

world records A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizatio ...

100 m hurdles The 100 metres hurdles, or 100-meter hurdles, is a track and field event run mainly by women (the male counterpart is the 110 metres hurdles). For the race, ten hurdles of a height of are placed along a straight course of . The first hurdle is ...

. On June 10, 1978, she became the first runner under 12.5 seconds with a new record of 12.48 seconds. She had the same time a year later, on June 18, 1979, and finally, on June 13, 1980, she had her best time ever, 12.36 seconds. Her world record was matched and later beaten by

Yordanka Donkova Yordanka Lyubchova Donkova (; born 28 September 1961) is a Bulgarian former hurdling athlete, notable for winning an Olympic gold medal and bronze medal as well as nine medals at European indoor and outdoor championships. Donkova set fou ...

. Rabsztyn's then world record time gives her the eleventh place in the all-time list of 100 m hurdlers. Her personal best remains the Polish record for the event Rabsztyn never won an outdoor Olympic, World or European

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be in ...

. She did, however, win several medals at indoor competitions. She was a two-time

60 metres hurdles 60 metres hurdles is a distance in hurdling which is generally run in indoor competitions. It is equivalent with the first 5 hurdles of a standard outdoor hurdle race. The current women's and men's world records are 7.65 seconds (Devynne Ch ...

champion at the

European Athletics Indoor Championships The European Athletics Indoor Championships is a biennial indoor track and field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skil ...

and was silver medallist in the event on four more occasions. Rabsztyn won three consecutive titles in the 100 m hurdles at the

Summer Universiade The FISU World University Games, formerly the Universiade, is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The former name is a portmanteau of the words "Universi ...

from 1973 to 1977 and two straight titles at the

IAAF World Cup The IAAF Continental Cup was an international track and field competition organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The event was proposed by IAAF former President Primo Nebiolo and was first held in 1977 as ...

(1977 and 1979). RABSZTYN GRAŻYNA
. Polish Olympic Committee. Retrieved on 2013-11-10.

Competition record

¹Representing Europe
²Did not finish in the final

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rabsztyn, Grazyna 1952 births Living people Athletes from Wrocław Polish female hurdlers World record setters in athletics (track and field) Olympic athletes for Poland Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) FISU World University Games gold medalists for Poland FISU World University Games silver medalists for Poland Medalists at the 1973 Summer Universiade Medalists at the 1975 Summer Universiade Medalists at the 1977 Summer Universiade 20th-century Polish sportswomen Polish Athletics Championships winners