Barbara Bieganowska-Zając won the 1500m final in the T20 class! She became the Paralympic champion for the fifth time in her career! She previously won gold medals in this distance at the London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and in the 800m in Sydney in 2000.
Bieganowska-Zając was once again unrivaled in her crowning distance. She outpaced her rivals by almost 3 seconds at the finish line. With a time of 4.26.06, she achieved her best result of the season. Second at the finish line was the Ukrainian Liudmyla Danylina (4.28.40), and third was the Brazilian Antonia Barros da Silva (4.29.40). The Polish athlete ran the last meters with a big smile on her face.
Now LA!
And she immediately declared that she would try to break her own world record in… four years at the Los Angeles Games, because she had no intention of ending her career. The fact that she was 43 years old did not bother her at all.
– Believe me, age doesn’t bother me at all. It’s just some number, a page in the calendar. I’m still hungry for success, it’s not enough for me. I’m going to go to Los Angeles for my sixth Paralympic medal! – she declared.
Bieganowska-Zając praised the fantastic crowd at the Stade de France in Paris, which almost completely filled the stadium during the morning athletics session.
The secret of success
What is her secret to winning gold at her fifth Olympics? Rivals change, young competitors appear, try – and she remains undefeated.
– I am a very stubborn woman, when I say something to myself, I do it. And brave. I have never given up, although I have fallen many times, hurting my arms and legs on the treadmill and my heart – in life. I have always been able to get up, move forward and fight despite the adversities and people around me who wished me ill. I have chosen only those people from whom I felt only good power and positive energy. And to them I am a hundred times grateful… – she said.
She knows that her successes can attract others to the sport.
– I want to be an example to people that despite various adversities, you can really achieve a lot in life, you just have to want it and fight for it. And surround yourself with valuable people, friendly, willing to help, and not pushing you aside – she added.
Silver but gold
Bieganowska-Zając, just like for the previous Olympic Games, prepared a special hairstyle. This time she chose braids. Exceptionally, however, she gave up the golden blond color, like the previous one, choosing the gray color.
– It’s not a balayage, but my natural hair color. Yes, it’s already gray and I decided not to hide it. I don’t want to be a dyed yellow blonde anymore, I prefer to be a natural silver. I would like to say to other women over forty – it’s not like something ends at this age. You can still do what you love.
Barbara also has her inspiration.
– I was inspired by the Netflix film about Diana Nyad, a swimmer who, at the age of 64, swam from Cuba to Florida in 53 hours [to miejsce uważane za „Mount Everest pływaków”, bo czają się tam niebezpieczne prądy, ale też rekiny i meduzy – przyp. red.]. After this feat, she convinced the youth that if you really want something and believe in it, you can achieve it regardless of age, disability or anything else – she said.
Girls, fight depression!
– I also had moments in my life and career when it was very difficult for me. I even came close to deciding to quit sports and competitions. I went through a very strong depression before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Therapy with the great Dr. Gibała helped me get out of it. I came out of it stronger and today I want to talk to women in a similar situation: girls, fight for yourselves, get up, show all those who made you depressed, who would like to lock you up at home, that you will not give up. Believe me, there are great doctors, there are great people who will help you, just like they helped me! – she convinced fervently.
– That first medal simply made me want to live – she said. – I understood that this is what I want to do in life and this is my goal. Today I am over 40 years old, I have two wonderful daughters, whom I raised by myself. I am glad that they are with me in spirit and support me, they are always there in difficult moments. I dedicate this medal to them, and also to my beloved husband, thanks to whom I am here today.
