“It was 1928. From 28 July to 12 August, Amsterdam was ostentatiously celebrating the 9th Summer Olympics. For the first time in the history of sports, women were allowed to compete in five athletic disciplines. Among them were Poles. All eyes were on one of them, and her throws ignited Poland’s hope for a victory. Halina Konopacka — a world record holder, a woman of great beauty, charisma and many talents.”

Enjoying Life. Halina Konopacka is the only such comprehensive and interesting Polish biography of Halina Konopacka — a heroine of the collective imagination, a brave woman who cherished life and emanated enthusiasm.

Halina Konopacka (1900–1989) won the first gold Olympic medal for Poland at the 9th Summer Olympics in 1928 in Amsterdam for a discus throw at a distance of 39.62 metres. Between 1924–1931, she represented the University Sports Association (AZS) in Warsaw. She won 26 Polish championships in: shot put, discus, javelin, high jump, athletic triathlon, pentathlon, and 4 × 75 m, 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m relay races. She broke the world record 7 times, and the Polish record 56 times. Along with her athletic career, she was pursuing her hobby — poetry writing. Her first poems were published in 1926 in the poetic monthly “Skamander”, and “Wiadomości Literackie”. She debuted among such eminent poets as Maria Pawlikowska‑Jasnorzewska, Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna, Bronisława Ostrowska. Beautiful, gifted with a talent for sports, and an artistic soul.