AGE: 36 COUNTRY: Poland EVENT: Men's 50-km racewalk THE DRAMA: Can the great man go out with one last gold medal? THE COMPETITION: Russia's Nizhegorodov, who beat Korzeniowski's old record in June
Posted Sunday, August 8, 2004; 11.13BST
"No matter your profession, every person has a crucial point," says Polish racewalker-philosopher Robert Korzeniowski. "You choose. You evolve. You grow up." His own crucial point came in 1994, when he took stock of his training, his attitude and his record. He didn't like what he saw: arrogance, inconsistency, underachievement. Things changed, he says, "when I decided to be humble."
And then he became great. Korzeniowski, 36, has three world titles and three Olympic golds. Athens will be his last Games. He's the favorite to win the 50 km though Russia's Denis Nizhegorodov issued a challenge in June by taking 34 seconds off Korzeniowski's old world record. The Pole's year has been focused on a golden ending. "This is absolutely the last step," he says, dismissing the idea of competing at a future Games "as a tourist with Olympic accreditation."
The 50 km won't actually be his only race in Athens. Korzeniowski is also running for a seat on the I.O.C.'s athletes' commission, which looks after competitors' interests. Retirement isn't an end, but a beginning. "I'll be busy," he promises, a grin spreading across his face. "I have other things to do."
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