In the lead-up to the European Athletics Team Championships, we take a closer look at the contenders. This time, the spotlight falls on Poland — the 2019 and 2021 champions and one of the most consistently high-performing nations in the competition’s history.
As they prepare to return to the top tier of European team competition in Madrid 2025 on 27-29 June, Poland travel with quiet determination and the weight of past success. With a proud tradition in the championships and podium finishes in both 2021 and 2023, the White and Reds have firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
Flashback to 2023
Competing in front of a passionate home crowd at Silesia 2023, Poland produced a superb all-round display to secure a second-place finish. It was a spirited title defence from the reigning champions, but on this occasion, Italy proved just out of reach, edging ahead to deny Poland three in a row, following victories in Bydgoszcz 2019 and Silesia 2021.
There was no shortage of highlights for the White and Reds. Ewa Swoboda lit up the track with a stunning run in the women’s 100m, setting a championship record of 11.09 to take maximum points and electrify the home support. In the field,
Wojciech Nowicki lived up to expectations with a commanding victory in the men’s hammer throw, unleashing a 79.61m throw to secure Poland’s only men’s individual 1st place of the weekend.
With their mixed 4x400m relay team racing to a season’s best of 3:12.87 for second place — a result that sealed a memorable podium finish for the hosts.
Track Record
Poland have become a powerhouse within the European Athletics Team Championships, frequently finishing in the upper tier of the top division following the transition from the European Cup in 2009. Their breakthrough victory came at Bydgoszcz 2019 - a landmark moment that marked Poland's arrival as a dominant force in team athletics.
- Leiria 2009, Portugal (4th Place)
At the inaugural edition of the European Athletics Team Championships in Leiria, Poland showcased their traditional strength in the throwing events. Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski secured a commanding victory in the men's shot put with a throw of 20.81m, while Piotr Małachowski clinched the win in the discus with a mark of 66.24m. In the women's hammer throw, Anita Włodarczyk delivered a standout performance, winning with 75.23m.
Despite their dominance in the field, a lack of depth ultimately proved costly, as they narrowly missed out on a podium finish — finishing fourth overall, just 11 points behind France (306 to 295).
- Braunschweig 2014, Germany (3rd Place)
At Braunschweig 2014, Poland delivered a strong performance which guided them to their first podium finish in the competition. Scoring 298 points total Poland were once again extremely strong in the field events- however this time success on the track proved pivotal. Karol Zalewski scored maximum points in the men's 200m and Katarzyna Kowalska was third in the women's 3000m steeplechase.
This newfound strength on the track, combined with the excellent field performance that Poland have long been known for, proved to be a medal winning formula. With consistent top- eight finishes across the board and standout moments both in sprinting and throws, Braunschweig 2014 was a pivotal moment that confirmed Poland as serious contenders at the top level.
- Bydgoszcz 2019, Poland (1st place)
A pivotal moment in the sport for Poland when their athletes were crowned the Kings and Queens of Europe. In front of an expectant crowd, each of Poland’s reigning champions from the Berlin 2018 European Athletic Championships reinforced their credentials. Justyna Święty-Ersetic - women’s 400m, Adam Kszczot - men’s 800m and Wojciech Nowicki - men’s hammer all repeated their feats from a year earlier.
Plus, the women’s 4x400m team triumphed again at a time when Poland was on the early stages of a prolific medal laden journey in the event that has gleaned multiple Olympic, world and European medals ever since. It all added up to a super 345 points, well clear of second placed Germany with 317.5.
- Silesia 2021, Poland (1st place)
Back on home soil in Chorzów, Poland delivered another historic performance to defend the European Athletics Team Championships title. In front of an inspired home crowd, the red and whites rose to the occasion, delivering consistent results across the board to top the standings with 181.5 points, just 2.5 ahead of Italy in one of the most tightly contested editions in recent memory.
Poland performed clinically to the home crowd, the standout performances coming from Pawel Fajdek- who broke the championship record in the men's hammer throw with a throw of 82.98m. The women's 4x400 relay team also had a standout performance clinching a championship record with a time of 3:26.37.
Key athletes
- Ewa Swoboda (100m, 4x100m relay)
Ewa Swoboda has firmly established herself among Poland’s sprinting elite, claiming European silver in Rome 2024 after a standout performance on the continental stage. A fan favorite known for her bold, tenacious personality, she returns as the reigning 100m championship record holder, thanks to her electrifying 11.09-second victory at Silesia 2023. With strong momentum from a successful indoor season, Swoboda looks poised to lead Poland’s charge in Madrid 2025.
- Natalia Bukowiecka (400m, 4x400m mixed relay)
Natalia Bukowiecka (formerly Kaczmarek) is one of Europe’s premier 400m runners and a pivotal part of Poland's relay power. After clinching Gold in Rome 2024 smashing the Polish record with a time of 48.98. Bukowiecka is also a two-time Olympic medalist clinching gold in the mixed 4x400m relay at Tokyo 2020 and further adding to her medal collection with an individual bronze in Paris 2024.
After minor bicep injury fears in February this year, Natalia has recovered well and returns to form just in time to anchor Poland’s ambitions.
- Wojciech Nowicki – Men’s hammer throw
Wojciech Nowicki is one of the most decorated hammer throwers of his generation, five-time global medalist, he claimed Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 with a personal best of 82.52m and added silver medals at Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023.
Off the field, the current European champion holds a degree in Mechanical engineering a fitting background for an athlete known for his technical precision and accuracy.
- Anita Włodarczyk – Women’s hammer throw
Anita Włodarczyk is widely regarded as the greatest female hammer thrower in history. The Polish legend is the only woman to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the event (2012, 2016, 2020) and holds the current world record at 82.98m, set in Warsaw 2016.
At Rome 2024, she secured silver, proving she remains a podium contender more than a decade after her first global title.
Jakub Szymański- Men's 110m hurdles
Szymański is Poland’s brightest young star in the hurdles. The 22-year-old is riding the high of a fantastic indoor season, having stormed to gold in Apeldoorn 2025, breaking the Polish 60m hurdles record with a blistering 7.43.
Now turning his focus to the outdoor stage, Szymański is on the hunt for his first senior outdoor win — and Madrid 2025 could be the perfect stage for his breakthrough. With growing confidence, he’s one to watch as Poland pushes for team glory.
Tom Hanson for European Athletics