Irena Szewińska (born Irena Kirszenstein on 24 May 1946) is a retired Polish sprinter who was one of the world’s foremost athletes for nearly two decades, in multiple events. She won gold in Tokyo in 1964 in the 4 x 100m relay and silver in the 200m and long jump….then gold in 1968 Mexico City 200m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay along with silver in the 100m….then she won bronze in the 1972 Munich 200m…..and finished her Olympic career with gold in the 400m in world record time in Montreal in 1976. For a sprinter to be that good for 12 years running is nothing less than phenomenal ….and this video stands as evidence of her prowess on the track for so many years. Also, at Mexico City in 1968….she lost to USA Barbara Ferrell….a great sprinter in her own right.
