Justyna Kowalczyk

Justyna Kowalczyk (born 19 January 1983) is a Polish cross country skier who has been competing since 2000. Kowalczyk is a double Olympic Champion and a double World Champion. She is also the only skier who won the Tour de Ski four times in a row and one of two female skiers, who won the FIS Cross-Country World Cup three times in a row (the other one being Finn Marjo Matikainen). Kowalczyk holds the all-time record for the most wins in Tour de Ski with 14 competitions won and 29 podiums in total. She also won the Vasaloppet women's edition in 2015.

She is a member of cross country ski department of AZS AWF Katowice and is coached by Aleksander Wierietielny.

Justyna Kowalczyk celebrates the gold medal in the women's 30 km classical event at the 2010 Olympics.

Kowalczyk finished second in the individual sprint at the 2002 World Junior Championships. She finished 31st in the individual sprint event at the 2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Recently in Canmore, Canada, on 22 January 2008, Justyna Kowalczyk won the race for her second World Cup triumph. She followed in Canmore with two more bronze medals in the same World Cup event. Kowalczyk was 3rd in the 2007 World Cup. She has also won thirty individual events at various distances and levels since 2001.

At the 2009 world championships in Liberec, Kowalczyk won two gold medals, one in the women's pursuit (7.5 km classical + 7.5 km free technique), and another one in the 30 km mass start. She also secured a bronze medal in the 10 km classical event.

She won the overall 2008–09 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup. On 24 March 2009, Kowalczyk was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

On 27 February 2010, Kowalczyk beat Norway's Marit Bjørgen by 0.3 seconds to win the gold medal in the women's 30 km classical event in the 2010 Winter Olympics. She posted a time of one hour, 30 minutes, 33.7 seconds. She earned two more medals in Vancouver, taking silver behind Bjørgen in the individual sprint classic on February 17, 2010, and bronze in the 15 km pursuit on February 19, 2010.

Kowalczyk won the 10 km classical race in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi on a broken foot. She did not finish 30 km freestyle race.

On February 22, 2015 won bronze medal of the World Championship 2015 in team sprint with Sylwia Jaśkowiec in Falun, Sweden.

She won the Vasaloppet ski marathon in 2015 with a time of 4:41:02.

Academics

Kowalczyk graduated from the Jerzy Kukuczka University of Physical Education in Katowice with an M.A. and a Ph.D. degree in physical education in 2014 at the Bronisław Czech University of Physical Education in Kraków, where her dissertation was titled "The structure and volume of training load cross-country skiing on the background of the evolution of technology gear and different levels of sports".

At the 2005 World Championships, Kowalczyk competed but was subsequently disqualified for taking dexamethasone at the Under23 (U23) OPA (Alpine Nations) Intercontinental Cup competition in Oberstdorf, Germany back on January 23, 2005. Dexamethason is a substance that is allowed Out-of-Competition but prohibited In-Competition. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant. Kowalczyk used the substance to alleviate an Achilles tendon condition.

On 13 June 2005, the FIS Doping Panel issued a two-year suspension (23 January 2005 – 22 January 2007) for Kowalczyk. In late June 2005 FIS determined that since dexamethasone was a glucocorticosteroid, it was classified as a specified substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances, and therefore the period of ineligibility for the first violation is at a maximum, one year's ineligibility. The FIS Doping Panel therefore reduced the suspension to one year.

Kowalczyk appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which held that Kowalczyk did not use Dexamethason to enhance her sport performance. However, she acted negligently, but the measure of the negligence did not justify a one-year term of ineligibility. According to CAS, a reduced period of ineligibility ending 8 December 2005 (the day of the hearing) provided the fair and proportionate measure of sanction.

CAS criticised the FIS Doping Panel that their decision excluded any consideration of Kowalczyk's defence that she did not use the substance to enhance her sport performance. According to CAS, Kowalczyk had disclosed and substantiated her defence that Dexamethason was not intended to enhance performance. She had submitted corresponding medical certifications to the FIS Doping Panel as proof of use in alleviating an Achilles tendon condition. Upon Kowalczyk's prima facie showing that her use of the substance was for medical reasons, the burden of proof shifted to FIS to prove the contrary.

Kowalczyk criticized Marit Bjørgen and other competitors during the Olympic Games in 2010 for using anti-asthma drugs. Bjørgen won five medals in the Olympics, three of them gold. The drug is allowed by FIS if prescribed by an Olympic team physician. Kowalczyk later apologized for the timing of her statements, since the Games were still going on at the time. The asthma medication Marit Bjørgen is using, Symbicort, has since been removed from WADA's list of banned substances.

Season titles

Race victories

1. Otepää – January 27, 2007 – Individual (10 km) classical
2. Canmore – January 22, 2008 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit
3. Whistler – January 17, 2009 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit
4. Otepää – January 24, 2009 – Individual (10 km) classical
5. Valdidentro – February 14, 2009 – Individual (10 km) classical
6. Lahti – March 8, 2009 – (10 km) freestyle interval start
7. Falun – World Cup Final – March 18–22, 2009 – (25 km)
8. Kuusamo – November 28, 2009 – Individual sprint classical
9. Rogla – December 20, 2009 – (15 km) classical mass start
10. Tour de Ski – January 1–10, 2010 – (60 km)
11. Otepää – January 16, 2010 – Individual (10 km) classical
12. Rybinsk – January 23, 2010 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit
13. Canmore – February 6, 2010 – Individual sprint classical
14. Tour de Ski – January 9, 2010/2011 – (60 km)
15. Rybinsk – February 4, 2011 – (5 km + 5 km) double pursuit
16. Rogla – December 17, 2011 – (10 km) classical mass start
17. Tour de Ski – January 8, 2011/2012 – (63 km)
18. Otepää – January 21, 2012 – Individual sprint classical
19. Otepää – January 22, 2012 – Individual (10 km) classical
20. Moscow – February 2, 2012 – Sprint (1.5 km) freestyle
21. Szklarska Poręba – February 18, 2012 – Individual (10 km) classical
22. Canmore – December 13, 2012 – Individual (10 km) classical
23. Canmore – December 16, 2012 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit
24. Tour de Ski – January 6, 2012/2013 – (50 km)
25. Davos – February 16, 2013 – Individual sprint classical
26. Lahti – March 10, 2013 – (10 km) classical interval start
27. Drammen – March 13, 2013 – Individual sprint classical
28. Lillehammer – December 7, 2013 – (10 km) classical interval start
29. Asiago – December 21, 2013 – Individual sprint classical
30. Szklarska Poręba – January 19, 2014 – (10 km) classical mass start
31. Pyeongchang – February 4, 2017 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit

Total podiums

1. Otepää – January 7, 2006 – Individual (10 km) classical (3. place)
2. Otepää – January 27, 2007 – Individual (10 km) classical (1. place)
3. Kuusamo – December 2, 2007 – Individual (10 km) classical (3. place)
4. Canmore – January 22, 2008 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (1. place)
5. Canmore – January 23, 2008 – Individual sprint classical (3. place)
6. Canmore – January 25, 2008 – (10 km) freestyle interval start (3. place)
7. Liberec – February 16, 2008 – (10 km) freestyle interval start (2. place)
8. Bormio – March 16, 2008 – (10 km) freestyle interval start (2. place)
9. Kuusamo – November 29, 2008 – Individual sprint classical (3. place)
10. Whistler – January 16, 2009 – Individual sprint classical (2. place)
11. Whistler – January 17, 2009 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (1. place)
12. Otepää – January 24, 2009 – Individual (10 km) classical (1. place)
13. Valdidentro – February 14, 2009 – Individual (10 km) classical (1. place)
14. Lahti – March 8, 2009 – (10 km) freestyle interval start (1. place)
15. Trondheim – March 12, 2009 – Individual sprint classical (3. place)
16. Trondheim – March 14, 2009 – (30 km) classical mass start (2. place)
17. Falun – World Cup Final – March 18–22, 2009 – (25 km) (1. place)
18. Kuusamo – November 28, 2009 – Individual sprint classical (1. place)
19. Rogla – December 19, 2009 – Individual sprint classical (2. place)
20. Rogla – December 20, 2009 – (15 km) classical mass start (1. place)
21. Tour de Ski – January 1–10, 2010 – (60 km) (1.place)
22. Otepää – January 16, 2010 – Individual (10 km) classical (1.place)
23. Rybinsk – January 22, 2010 – Individual sprint freestyle (3. place)
24. Rybinsk – January 23, 2010 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (1. place)
25. Canmore – February 5, 2010 – (10 km) freestyle interval start (2. place)
26. Canmore – February 6, 2010 – Individual sprint classical (1. place)
27. Lahti – March 6, 2010 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (2. place)
28. Falun – World Cup Final – March 17–21, 2010 – (25 km) (2. place)
29. Kuusamo – November 28, 2010 – (15 km) freestyle interval start (2. place)
30. Davos – December 11, 2010 – Individual (10 km) classical (2.place)
31. La Clusaz – December 18, 2010 – (15 km) mass start (2. place)
32. Tour de Ski – January 9, 2010/2011 – (60 km) (1. place)
33. Otepää – January 22, 2011 – Individual (10 km) classical (2. place)
34. Rybinsk – February 4, 2011 – (5 km + 5 km) double pursuit (1. place)
35. Rybinsk – February 5, 2011 – Individual sprint classical (3. place)
36. Drammen – February 19, 2011 – Individual (10 km) classical (2. place)
37. Lahti – March 12, 2011 – (5 km +5 km) double pursuit (2. place)
38. Falun – World Cup Final – March 16–20, 2011 – (25 km) (2. place)
39. Rogla – December 17, 2011 – (10 km) classical mass start (1. place)
40. Tour de Ski – January 8, 2011/2012 – (63 km) (1. place)
41. Otepää – January 21, 2012 – Individual sprint classical (1. place)
42. Otepää – January 22, 2012 – Individual (10 km) classical (1. place)
43. Moscow – February 2, 2012 – Sprint (1.5 km) freestyle (1. place)
44. Rybinsk – February 5, 2012 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (2. place)
45. Nove Mesto na Morave – February 11, 2012 – (15 km) classical mass start (2. place)
46. Szklarska Poręba – February 18, 2012 – Individual (10 km) classical (1. place)
47. Lahti – March 4, 2012 – Individual sprint classical (3. place)
48. Drammen – March 7, 2012 – Individual sprint classical (3. place)
49. Oslo – March 11, 2012 – (30 km) classical mass start (2. place)
50. Kuusamo – December 2, 2012 – Triple Ruka (2. place)
51. Canmore – December 13, 2012 – Individual (10 km) classical (1. place)
52. Canmore – December 16, 2012 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (1. place)
53. Tour de Ski – January 6, 2012/2013 – (50 km) (1. place)
54. Liberec – January 12, 2013 – Individual sprint classical (2. place)
55. La Clusaz – January 19, 2013 – (10 km) classical mass start (3. place)
56. Davos – February 16, 2013 – Individual sprint classical (1. place)
57. Davos – February 17, 2013 – (10 km) freestyle interval start (2. place)
58. Lahti – March 10, 2013 – (10 km) classical interval start (1. place)
59. Drammen – March 13, 2013 – Individual sprint classical (1. place)
60. Oslo – March 17, 2013 – (30 km) freestyle mass start (2. place)
61. Lillehammer – December 7, 2013 – (10 km) classical interval start (1. place)
62. Asiago – December 21, 2013 – Individual sprint classical (1. place)
63. Szklarska Poręba – January 19, 2014 – (10 km) classical mass start (1. place)
64. Pyongyang – February 4, 2017 – (7.5 km + 7.5 km) double pursuit (1. place)

Stage victories

1. Oberhof – January 2, 2010 – (10 km) Classical Handicap Start – Tour de Ski
2. Cortina – Toblach – January 7, 2010 – Individual (5 km) Classical – Tour de Ski
3. Falun – March 19, 2010 – (2.5 km) Classical Prologue – World Cup Final
4. Oberhof – December 31, 2010 – (2.5 km) Freestyle Prologue – Tour de Ski
5. Oberhof – January 1, 2011 – (10 km) Classical Pursuit – Tour de Ski
6. Cortina – Toblach – January 6, 2011 – (16 km) Freestyle Pursuit – Tour de Ski
7. Cortina – Toblach – January 8, 2011 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start – Tour de Ski
8. Oberhof – December 29, 2011 – (2.5 km) Freestyle Prologue – Tour de Ski
9. Oberhof – December 30, 2011 – (10 km) Classical Pursuit – Tour de Ski
10. Oberstdorf – December 31, 2011 – Sprint (1.2 km) Classical Final – Tour de Ski
11. Val di Fiemme – January 7, 2012 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start – Tour de Ski
12. Falun – March 17, 2012 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start – Tour de Ski
13. Oberhof – December 30, 2012 – (9 km) Classical Pursuit – Tour de Ski
14. Cortina – Toblach – January 3, 2013 – (15 km) Freestyle Pursuit – Tour de Ski
15. Cortina – Toblach – January 4, 2013 – Sprint (3 km) Classical Final – Tour de Ski
16. Val di Fiemme – January 5, 2013 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start – Tour de Ski
17. Stockholm – March 20, 2013 – Sprint (1.1 km) Classical – World Cup Final
18. Kuusamo – November 29, 2013 – Sprint Classical Final – Ruka Triple
19. Kuusamo – November 30, 2013 – Individual (5 km) Classical – Ruka Triple

Additional podiums

1. Nove Mesto – December 28, 2007 – (3.3 km) Classical Prologue (3. place) – Tour de Ski
2. Nove Mesto – December 29, 2007 – (10 km) Freestyle Handicap (3. place) – Tour de Ski
3. Asiago – January 4, 2008 – (0,8 km) Sprint Freestyle (3. place) – Tour de Ski
4. Oberhof – December 27, 2008 – (2.8 km) Freestyle Prologue (3. place) – Tour de Ski
5. Oberhof – December 28, 2008 – (10 km) Classical Handicap Start (3. place) – Tour de Ski
6. Falun – March 20, 2009 – (2.5 km) Freestyle Prologue (3. place) – World Cup Final
7. Falun – March 21, 2009 – (10 km) Mass Pursuit (3. place) – World Cup Final
8. Oberhof – January 1, 2010 – (2.8 km) Freestyle Prologue (3. place) – Tour de Ski
9. Oberhof – January 2, 2010 – (10 km) Classical Handicap Start (1. place) – Tour de Ski
10. Oberhof – January 3, 2010 – Sprint (1.2 km) Classical Final (2. place) – Tour de Ski
11. Cortina – Toblach – January 6, 2010 – (16 km) Freestyle Handicap Start (3. place) – Tour de Ski
12. Cortina – Toblach – January 7, 2010 – Individual (5 km) Classical (1. place) – Tour de Ski
13. Stockholm – March 17, 2010 – Sprint 1.1 km Classical (2. place) – World Cup Final
14. Falun – March 19, 2010 – (2.5 km) Classical Prologue (1. place) – World Cup Final
15. Kuusamo – November 27, 2010 – Individual (5 km) Classical (2. place) – Ruka Triple
16. Kuusamo – November 27, 2010 – (10 km) Freestyle Handicap Start (3. place)- Ruka Triple
17. Oberhof – December 31, 2010 – (2.5 km) Freestyle Prologue (1. place) – Tour de Ski
18. Oberhof – January 1, 2011 – 10 km) Classical Pursuit (1. place) – Tour de Ski
19. Oberstdorf – January 2, 2011 – Sprint Classical (2. place) – Tour de Ski
20. Cortina – Toblach – January 6, 2011 – 16 km Freestyle Pursuit (1. place) – Tour de Ski
21. Cortina – Toblach – January 8, 2011 – 10 km Classical Final (1. place) – Tour de Ski
22. Falun – March 18, 2011 – (2.5 km) Classical Prologue (2. place) – World Cup Final
23. Oberhof – December 29, 2011 – (2.5 km) Freestyle Prologue (1. place) – Tour de Ski
24. Oberhof – December 30, 2011 – 10 km) Classical Pursuit (1. place) – Tour de Ski
25. Oberstdorf – December 31, 2011 – Sprint (1.2 km) Classical Final (1. place) – Tour de Ski
26. Oberstdorf – January 1, 2012 – 5+5 km C/F Skiathlon (2. place) – Tour de Ski
27. Cortina – Toblach – January 3, 2012 – 3 km Classical (2. place) – Tour de Ski
28. Cortina – Toblach – January 4, 2012 – Sprint (1.3 km) Freestyle Final – Tour de Ski
29. Cortina – Toblach – January 5, 2012 – 15 km Freestyle Pursuit (2. place) – Tour de Ski
30. Val di Fiemme – January 7, 2012 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start (1. place) – Tour de Ski
31. Val di Fiemme – January 8, 2012 – (9 km) Classical Handicap Start (2. place) – Tour de Ski
32. Falun – March 17, 2012 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start (1. place) – World Cup Final
33. Oberhof – December 29, 2012 – (3 km) Freestyle Prologue (3. place) – Tour de Ski
34. Oberhof – December 30, 2012 – (9 km) Classical Pursuit (1. place) – Tour de Ski
35. Cortina – Toblach – January 3, 2013 – (15 km) Freestyle Pursuit (1. place) – Tour de Ski
36. Cortina – Toblach – January 4, 2013 – Sprint (3 km) Classical Final – Tour de Ski
37. Val di Fiemme – January 5, 2013 – (10 km) Classical Mass Start – Tour de Ski
38. Stockholm – March 20, 2013 – Sprint (1.1 km) Classical (1. place) – World Cup Final
39. Kuusamo – November 29, 2013 – Sprint Classical Final (1. place) – Ruka Triple
40. Kuusamo – November 30, 2013 – Individual (5 km) Classical (1. place) – Ruka Triple