Patrycja Maliszewska

When and where did you begin this sport?

She took up the sport in 1998 in Bialystok, Poland.

Injuries	She fractured the tibia and fibula bones in her left leg at the 2015 World Cup event in Toronto, ON, Canada. She required two operations and it took her two years to return to World Cup competition. (sport.tvp.pl, 18 Oct 2021; LOTTO Radosc wygrywania YouTube channel, 01 Feb 2019; wyborcza.pl, 22 Jan 2017; Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Never give up." (Athlete, 05 Feb 2020)
Famous relatives	Her younger sister Natalia represented Poland in short track at the Olympic Winter Games in 2018 and 2022. (SportsDeskOnline, 31 Oct 2022; sport.tvp.pl, 18 Oct 2021)

www.facebook.com/pages/Patrycja-Maliszewska/127710643938073
twitter.com/MalinaPati

Hobbies	Watching Formula One. (sport.tvp.pl, 18 Oct 2021)
Hero / Idol	Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica. (Athlete, 05 Feb 2020)
Most influential person in career	Her family. (Athlete, 05 Feb 2020)
Milestones	She became the first short track skater representing Poland to win an individual medal at the European championships when she claimed bronze in the overall competition at the 2015 edition of the tournament in Dordrecht, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Oct 2015; bialystok.pl, 28 Jan 2015)

Reason for choosing this sport

"I noticed an advertisement for roller skating classes at my school. I already had roller skates from my grandma after asking her for a long time. I really liked to race. In the winter the roller skating classes turned into ice skating classes."

Nicknames	Pati (gazetawroclawska.pl, 10 Mar 2019)
Other information	INJURY REHABILITATION She found renewed motivation for the sport during her two-year break from World Cup competition after breaking the tibia and fibula bones in her left leg at the 2015 World Cup event in Toronto, ON, Canada. She took inspiration from Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica's recovery from serious injury following a crash in 2011. "It was a breakthrough moment in my career. I never thought about giving up. I knew that I would return. Return to complete my short track story in the way I want, not due to injury. I am stronger, I learnt a lot about myself as a human in a different role. I had to stay out of the sport for a very long time, I had to fight for a long time during my rehabilitation. Robert Kubica, who returned to Formula One after his crash and injury, was my inspiration, and now I think I can be an inspiration for other athletes." (LOTTO Radosc wygrywania YouTube channel, 01 Feb 2019) SISTERHOOD Her younger sister Natalia also represents Poland in short track, and competed at the Olympic Winter Games in 2018 and 2022. "I am sure that if I did not start skating, then Natalia would not have taken it up either because it is quite a niche sport. Bialystok is a cradle of short track in Poland. We were lucky to grow up with people who also shared this passion. What I have started, Natalia has continued. I am happy that I am next to her and can see it all. I support her and sometimes I get nervous for her. The achievements of my younger sister give me a kick and motivates me to work harder. There is no competition between us." (SportsDeskOnline, 31 Oct 2022; wp.pl, 17 Feb 2019; tvp.pl, 09 Mar 2019)