Iwona Marcinkiewicz swaps medals for backstage work at Warsaw European Open 2026

Iwona Marcinkiewicz understands elite sport from both sides of the barrier. She won Olympic bronze in archery at the 1996 Atlanta Games in the team event, and in the same year she was honoured with the Silver Cross of Merit. The habits that carried her there—discipline, consistency, and a stubborn kind of focus—still shape how she moves through sport today.

Nearly 30 years on, Marcinkiewicz is still close to competition, just in a different role. She now works within the Polish Judo Association and was among the people making sure everything ran smoothly behind the scenes at the Warsaw European Open 2026. It’s not the spotlight, but it’s the kind of work that keeps the spotlight possible.

Big tournaments don’t happen by magic—someone has to hold it all together.

For her, switching from athlete to organiser isn’t a step away from sport, but a new way to belong to it. Marcinkiewicz says she genuinely enjoys working “on the other side” and sees it as giving something back. When she was competing, a full team helped handle training, competitions, and travel so athletes could focus; now she aims to provide that same support for younger judoka chasing their own goals.

Watching judo, she is drawn less to style and more to mindset. Determination, fighting spirit, resilience to pain, and a strong mentality are the qualities that stand out to her. Even though archery and judo look worlds apart, she feels the psychological demands—staying calm, pushing through pressure, trusting your preparation—are surprisingly similar.

Marcinkiewicz also speaks openly about the modern reality of athletes sharing both sport and private life on social media in real time. That visibility can be demanding, she notes, because life isn’t always easy. In difficult moments, what matters most is quiet and support—something athletes need as much as anyone.

Her message to the next generation in Warsaw is clear: don’t give up, keep pursuing your dreams, and remember to enjoy the sport, because the journey can become one of the most beautiful memories you carry.

Source: EJU_News