Ski-jumping icon Adam Małysz elected new head of Polish Ski Association

Małysz, a Polish ski-jumping legend, was elected unanimously on Saturday during a convention of the association in the southern city of Kraków, the onet.pl news website reported.

He was the only candidate to take over from Tajner, who is retiring after holding the role for 16 years.

"I'm not used to making speeches, but I guess I'll have to learn that," said Małysz, who was until now director of ski jumping for the Polish Ski Association.

"Thank you for your support," he added after the vote. "There is hard work ahead of us."

The Polish Ski Association (PZN) is the national governing body for ski and snowboard sports in Poland.

Małysz, 44, is a former ski jumper who retired from the sport in 2011 as a multiple world champion and Olympic medalist, one of his country’s most decorated.

He has four Olympic medals, three silver and one bronze, to his name, and four world championship titles. He also won the ski-jumping World Cup four times.

Most of his successes came under the coaching of Tajner, who on Saturday picked up a high state decoration, the Commander's Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order, from President Andrzej Duda for "outstanding achievements in coaching and for efforts to promote Polish ski sports in the international arena."

Tajner told Saturday's convention that Polish skiers have earned a total of 14 Olympic medals and 28 world championship medals during the last two decades.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, onet.pl