Marcin Lewandowski, Piotr Małachowski, and members of the Polish national ice hockey team announce their participation in IRONMAN Poland. We asked them what they fear the most.
Sports are addictive. Former professional athletes know this all too well. Even though they no longer compete for medals at the Olympic Games or World Championships, they simply can’t live without training and competition.
Marcin Lewandowski knows this feeling well – the track and field athlete and European champion in the 800 meters from Barcelona has taken on the challenge and is preparing to compete in IRONMAN 70.3 Warsaw.
I am a born athlete, so I need to feel the element of competition, pressure, and adrenaline. On the other hand, I need to have a goal. I’m not afraid of anything—I can move mountains, but I must have a purpose.
Marcin Lewandowski – Track and Field Athlete, Former Polish National Team Member
Swimming Will Be a Challenge
The goal in this case is simple – to complete the race. Lewandowski is not setting overly ambitious targets for himself at the moment. Instead, he is training regularly and working hard to build his fitness.
I’ll manage on the bike. Running – even though it’s my natural environment, I still need to work on it during training because I’ve lost a lot in this area. But swimming will be the biggest challenge. I know it’s going to be tough. I have huge motivation to wake up at 6 AM and go to the pool or for a run.
Marcin Lewandowski – Track and Field Athlete, Former Polish National Team Member
Marcin Lewandowski is not the only Polish track and field athlete who will be taking on the IRONMAN 70.3 challenge for the first time this year. Two-time Olympic silver medalist and world champion in discus throw, Piotr Małachowski, has also announced his participation. The discus thrower has already started training for IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków.
World Championships as Preparation for Triathlon
A complete sensation will be the participation of current Polish national ice hockey team members in IRONMAN 70.3 Warsaw. Paweł Zygmunt and his teammates will first compete in the Division IA World Championships in Romania before taking on the triathlon challenge.
From April 27 to May 3, in Sfântu Gheorghe, the Polish team will compete in Division IA against Great Britain, Italy, Romania, Japan, and Ukraine. There is no doubt that this will be a challenging tournament.
There won’t be much time for proper triathlon training since we have the World Championships ahead of us. But for me, this is an incredible thrill. It’s also a way to test my mental endurance. I’m not setting any specific sporting goals. I’m going in completely blind and will just try to finish the race. I don’t even know what to expect from myself.
Paweł Zygmunt, Ice Hockey Player, Polish National Team Member
Zygmunt emphasizes that running and cycling are regular parts of ice hockey training. A specialized bike for his IRONMAN 70.3 Warsaw race is being prepared by a trusted bike service. However, his biggest concern is the swimming segment.
Running is part of our training, but I know that by the time the run comes, fatigue from the first two disciplines will have set in. My biggest fear is the swimming segment. I enjoy swimming, but this stage still stresses me the most.
Paweł Zygmunt, Ice Hockey Player, Polish National Team Member
Dad Doesn’t Know
Paweł Zygmunt and his national team colleagues competing in IRONMAN Poland are counting on support along the course. His girlfriend will definitely be cheering him on. However, it is uncertain whether his father, Paweł Zygmunt Sr.—a multiple Olympian, European silver medalist, and World Championship bronze medalist in speed skating—will be at the finish line.
My dad doesn’t know that I’m competing. I’ll surprise him with the news. He will definitely say that it’s crazy to take part in such a demanding race right after the championships.
Paweł Zygmunt, Ice Hockey Player, Polish National Team Member
“I Just Have To Ignore Them”
Without a doubt, IRONMAN 70.3 is a competition that demands thorough preparation. Professional athletes, who are accustomed to rigorous training routines, have an advantage. However, even they emphasize that motivation is the key. Marcin Lewandowski, who became a soldier in the Polish Army after retiring from professional sports, admits that while he is unsure of his capabilities on the course, he already has the right motivation.
A benchmark for me is the result from the first race of Sebastian Chmara, the president of the Polish Athletics Association, and vice president Marek Plawgo. They are my points of reference. I just have to ignore them, and that’s it.
Marcin Lewandowski – Track and Field Athlete, Former Polish National Team Member