The show at the city's Museum of Sports and Tourism celebrates Konopacka as both a pioneer of Polish athletics and a cultural icon.
She won Poland’s first Olympic gold medal in the women’s discus at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s sporting history.
Passion for sports
Born into a noble family with Tatar roots on February 26, 1900, in Rawa Mazowiecka, Konopacka excelled both physically and artistically.
Her athletic journey began with a passion for physical activity and nature, quickly propelling her to global recognition as a track-and-field star.
"When I took up the discus, it turned out that after a few tries, I broke the Polish record," Konopacka later recalled. "Then they told me to start training a bit. And that's how it all began."
After early successes in international competitions, her defining moment came on July 31, 1928, when she became Poland's first Olympic gold medalist, setting a new world record of 39.62 metres in the discus throw at the Amsterdam Games.
Track-and-field all-rounder
Konopacka's versatility extended beyond the discus—she also excelled in various track-and-field events, including relay races, javelin throw and shot put.
She was also one of Poland's best tennis players.
Cultural icon
Off the field, Konopacka was a prominent figure in interwar Poland's cultural scene.
Her grace and elegance made her a standout at social events, while her talents extended to poetry and painting.
Her works appeared in leading literary magazines, and her poetry collection, Któregoś dnia (Some Day), became a fashionable read in the 1920s.
Woman in gold
Konopacka's life took a dramatic turn during World War II when she played a key role in a daring mission to transport Poland’s gold reserves to France in September 1939. The operation was vital in supporting the Polish government-in-exile during the war.
Following France's surrender to Nazi Germany, Konopacka and her husband moved to the United States. After his passing, she remarried and returned to her artistic pursuits, remaining active in cultural circles until her death in Florida in 1989.
In 2018, Konopacka was honoured alongside Irena Szewińska, Poland's most decorated Olympian, and Janusz Kusociński, a legendary long-distance runner, as one of Poland’s "Athletes of the Century."
The exhibition, which runs until the end of April, showcases memorabilia, photographs and personal artifacts, offering an insight into the life and legacy of a woman who left an indelible mark on both Polish sports and culture.
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Source: Polish Radio