President congratulates Kowalczyk after Sochi gold

Justyna Kowalczyk celebrates her victory in the cross country 10 km classic. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot

Komorowski telephoned the gold medallist on Thursday evening and besides congratulating her on her success, passed on his thanks to all those involved in training the 31-year-old in the lead up to the games.

Kowalczyk has revealed that nerves were running high before the start of Thursday's race, especially after breaking bomnes in her foot three weeks ago in training.

“I stood at the start and thought either I'll come first or twentieth,” she said after the finish.

“The first part of the race was easy and I was worried that I would lose ground there, so I went for it to the max. Coming into the stadium after 5 km I'd really had enough,” she revealed.

“It was very tough, but you won't get an Olympic gold with a smile on your lips. “I'm a stubborn woman, and that was made clear a long time ago,” she joked.

Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot

Kowalczyk was overcome by emotion on crossing the finishing line, bursting into tears as her win dawned on her.

Fellow gold medallist Kamil Stoch, who won Poland's only other medal so far in the normal hill ski jumping contest, was among the first to congratulate the 31-year-old.

Stoch revealed he'd watched the entire race along with thousands of his countrymen.

“It's great, congratulations for her,” he said.

Despite a crash landing in training on Wednesday, Stoch performed well on Thursday in the training rounds for the large hill contest, inspiring hopes that he might clinch yet one more medal for Poland. (nh)

Source: IAR, Przeglad Sportowy