Polish Language Blog

There have been a lot of famous Polish athletes, but in recent years, the focus has hopped between a few various contenders for the crown of Poland’s most beloved sportstar.

For some time, that seemed to be Adam Małysz. In the winter of 2001/02, the Wisła Eagle, as he was known came to prominence through wins in ski-jumping competitions, and became a household name and top contender easch season. He had a strong following, but as success tailed off after the 2006/07 season, he seemed to lose his edge. However, a strong finish gettgin solver in the 2010 Winter Olympics and more success before his retirement in 2011 meant he left well-loved.

Justyna Kowalczyk is another name seen as being well recognised across winter sports, with her having the all time record of 10 wins in the Tour de Ski cross-country competitions. She has a hugely impressive record, but has not always gotten the recognition for it, as her style her been based more on power rather than grace which many other skiers use. However, her popularity in Poland has lead to recognition and advertisement for a bank among others.

Robert Kubica displayed natural ability for motor racing from an early age, and with success in Formula Renault series, it seemed inevitable for him to move to Formula 1 racing. He built up experience through 2006 and 2007, which then culminated in a race victory in the Canadian Grand Prix of 2008. He continued to progress through 2009 and 201o, getting 7 further podium finished after his win. However, his crash in early 2011 while rally driving in Spain has resulted in him missing 2 seasons of Formula 1 , and there were questions over his potential return. Kubica returned to racing in September 2012.

Mariusz Pudzianowski won 5 World’s Strongest Man competitions, more than anyone else, and also finished in second place twice. He has recently switched to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) competitions, with 5 wins and 2 losses from his 8 bouts so far. During his time in the Strong Man competitions, he was a household name and would be easily recognised as one of the best.

Agnieszka Radwańska has made strong progress through the ranks of women’s tennis, improving steadily over the past few years and picking up 10 tournament wins. This was highlighted by her reaching the final of the 2012 Wimbled0n tournament, although she lost that over three sets to Venus Williams. She reached the world ranking of number 2 also during this year, showing consistent performance over sustained periods.

And now Jerzy Janowicz makes further tennis progress, this time on the mens side.

What connects all the above (in one way at least) is that they are all participating in individual sports, fighting for themselves rather than for a club, group or national team.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

Pope Benedict XVI thanked Poles on Wednesday for the “warm reception” he received when he visited Poland in 2006 and asked for their prayers on his retirement.

“I thank you for your presence here in Rome over all these years, for your prayers and tokens of sympathy,” Pope Benedict XVI said during his last General Audience to around 150,000 of the Roman Catholic faithful in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

“I thank you for my pilgrimage to Poland at the start of my pontificate and the warm reception during that visit. Having the great advocate in the person of the Blessed John Paul II, you remain firmly in faith. I ask you for prayers for me and for the Church,” he added.

In a sometimes emotional speech, Pope Benedict XVI referred to “rough seas” he has travelled during his pontificate.

“There were moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy [...] there were moments, as there were throughout the history of the Church, when the seas were rough and the wind blew against us and it seemed that the Lord was sleeping,” he said.

In his eight years as Pontiff, the Pope visited more than 20 countries. One of the first was to Poland, in May 2006, the homeland of his predecessor, John Paul II.

As a former member of the Hitler Youth, he visited the site of the German Nazi Auschwitz death camp, and called himself “a son of the German people,” asking: “Where was God in those days?”

Pope Benedict XVI  becomed ‘Pope Emeritus’ when his pontificate ended after becoming the first pope to stand down in over 600 years.

Four Poles are to be among the College of Cardinals in March to choose a new head of the Roman Catholic church, including Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko and Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

Most of you who love fashion probably know her…Anja Rubik was born in Rzeszów, Poland. Growing up, Anja lived in Greece, Canada, and South Africa and began modeling full- time after graduating from a British high school in Paris. Rubik can be seen in numerous editorials for Vogue, Numero, Harper’s Bazaar, etc. More information and photographs of Anja can be found on her website: AnjaRubik.com

Polish supermodel Anja Rubik has teamed up with renowned Italian shoe designer to launch the Giuseppe for Anja Rubik collection.

She has been hard at work with Italian shoe designer Giuseppe Zanotti on a new capsule collection of footwear and accessories.

The ‘Giuseppe for Anja Rubik’ collection is set to debut at the beginning of March and expected to retail at an average price of £790. The pair have been friends since Rubik first starred as the face (and Bambi-esque legs) of Zanotti’s eponymous line.

In 2011, the designer teamed up with Chopard to produce a pair of pink sapphire, diamond and ruby-encrusted shoes for Rubik to wear to the Cannes Film Festival which Rubik then auctioned in front of a celebrity-packed crowd to raise £125,000 for AIDS charity amfAR.

The supermodel likes to flex her creative muscles. Last year she relaunched 25 Magazine with her husband, Sasha Knezevic, ringing in fashion favours from fellow models including Karlie Kloss and Abbey Lee Kershaw for the erotically-themed issue.

Take a look at this video to get a glimpse behind the scenes as the model is photographed brandishing her new shoes and accessories, and posing alongside Zanotti (you have to click on the link – video is unlisted and you can only view it through the link).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wr8lJsH2GzE

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)