Maria Żodzik (Belarusian: Марыя Жодзік, born 19 January 1997) is a high jumper. She was the national champion of Belarus in 2020. Having Polish grandparents, she was granted Polish citizenship in 2024 and represented Poland at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[2][1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Марыя Жодзік |
| Birth name | Maryia Zhodzik |
| National team | Belarus (until 2024) Poland (from 2024) |
| Born | 19 January 1997 Baranavichy, Belarus[1] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | High jump |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | High jump: 1.97m (Toruń, 2024) |
Career
editShe won the high jump at the Belarusian national championships in 2020.[3] She was named to the Belarusian team for the delayed 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.[4] However, she was not permitted to compete as she was ruled as not meeting the minimum testing requirements of the Anti-Doping Rules for her country by the Athletics Integrity Unit.[5]
She moved to Poland in 2022, and became based at Białystok, where she trains with coach Robert Nazarkiewicz at the Podlasie Białystok club.[6] She jumped a personal best 1.97 metres at the Polish Indoor Championships in Toruń on 17 February 2024.[7] In March 2024, she was granted Polish citizenship.[8]
International competitions
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Belarus
| ||||
| 2016 | World U20 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 15th (q) | 1.77 m |
| 2017 | European U23 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 5th | 1.86 m |
| 2019 | European U23 Championships | Gävle, Sweden | 18th (q) | 1.73 m |
Representing  Poland
| ||||
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 28th (q) | 1.83 m |
References
edit- ^ a b Petruczenko, Maciej (19 June 2024). "Maria Żodzik – Polka z Białorusi na olimpijski medal?". Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Wasiak, Jan (2 August 2024). "Niemiłe zaskoczenie. Maria Żodzik szybko żegna się z igrzyskami". przegladsportowy.onet.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Адкрыты Чэмпіянат Рэспублікі Беларусь па легкай атлетыцы" [Belarus National Outdoor Athletics Championships] (PDF) (in Belarusian). Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Athletics ZHODZIK Mariya". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ "Three Belarusian athletes declared ineligible for Tokyo 2020". eng.belta.by. 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Belarusian high jumper granted Polish citizenship, eyes Paris Olympics". Polskiradio.pl. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Polish Indoor Championships". World Athletics. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Petruczenko, Maciej (20 March 2024). "Another strengthening of Polish athletics. President Duda granted citizenship". Przegladsportowy. Retrieved 3 June 2024.