Szewinska, Irena (1946–)
Szewinska, Irena (1946–)
Polish-Jewish track-and-field athlete. Name variations: Irene Kirszenstein; Irena Kirszenstein-Szewinska; Irena Szewinska-Kirszenstein. Born Irena Kirszenstein, May 24, 1946, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia; m. Junusz Szewinski (runner who became her coach), 1967.
Won medals at 4 Olympics, a feat no man or woman had ever accomplished: won silver in long jump, silver in 200 meters, gold in 4 × 100-meter relay at Tokyo Olympics (1964), won bronze in 100 meters, gold in 200 meters at Mexico City Olympics (1968), won bronze in 200 meters at Munich Olympics (1972), won gold in 400 meters at Montreal (1976); became the 1st woman to break 50 seconds in the 400 meters, breaking tape at 49.9 seconds (1974); at European championships, won gold medals in the 200 meters, long jump, and 400-meter relay as well as a silver medal in the 100 meters (1966), a bronze medal in the 200 meters (1971) and gold medals in the 100- and 200-meters (1974); won the 400 meters at the World championships in 49.0 seconds, a new world record (1977).