Who Is Janusz Kusocinski, the Athlete Honored by the Kusocinski Memorial Meet?
The Janusz Kusocinski Memorial, first held in 1954, is an annual Polish track and field event. Recently, it takes place at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, honouring the legacy of runner Janusz Kusocinski.
Here’s all you need to know about him:
Who Was Janusz Kusocinski?
Janusz Kusocinski was a legendary Polish distance runner. He won the 10,000m gold at the 1932 Olympics and later became a national hero for resisting Nazi occupation during WWII.
What Were His Major Athletic Achievements?
- World records in the 3000m (8:18.8) and 4 miles (19:02.6) in 1932
- Olympic gold in 10,000m at Los Angeles 1932 (30:11.4)
- Silver in 5000m at 1934 European Championships
- Multiple-time Polish national champion
Why Was His Olympic Gold Groundbreaking?
He broke the dominance of the “Flying Finns,” becoming the first non-Finnish runner to win the Olympic 10,000m and beating Paavo Nurmi’s record.
What Did He Do During the Nazi Occupation?
- Volunteered in the Polish Army in 1939
- Fought in the defence of Warsaw; awarded the Cross of Valour
- Joined resistance group “The Wolves” under the alias “Prawdzic”
- Operated undercover as a waiter while gathering intel
How Did His Life End?
Captured by the Gestapo in 1940, he was tortured but stayed silent. Executed in the Kampinos Forest during the Nazi’s AB-Aktion targeting Polish elites.
How Is He Remembered in Poland?
- The Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet in Chorzów
- Streets and schools named after him
- National icon in both sport and wartime resistance
- Posthumous award: Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2009)
What Was His Life Before Running?
- Born in Warsaw, 1907
- Played football before switching to athletics
- Spotted during a relay fill-in
- Trained under Aleksander Klumberg, a former decathlon world record holder