Who is Janusz Kusocinski? The Olympic legend behind the Meet where Neeraj Chopra competes tonight

Who is Janusz Kusocinski? The Olympic legend behind the Meet where Neeraj Chopra competes tonight

The Janusz Kusocinski Memorial, held since 1954, honours the 1932 Olympic 10,000m champion Janusz Kusocinski. Now in its 71st edition, it is one of Europe’s oldest annual athletics meets and is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour (Silver level).

A week after breaking the 90m barrier with a personal best and national record of 90.23m, Neeraj Chopra returns to action at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial tonight.

Here’s what you should know about the man behind the Meet’s name.

Janusz Kusocinski was a legendary Polish distance runner. He won the 10,000m gold at the 1932 Olympics and later became a national hero for resisting Nazi occupation during WWII.

He broke the dominance of the “Flying Finns,” becoming the first non-Finnish runner to win the Olympic 10,000m while breaking Paavo Nurmi’s record.

Captured by the Gestapo in 1940, he was tortured but stayed silent. Executed in the Kampinos Forest during the Nazi’s AB-Aktion targeting Polish elites.

Published on May 23, 2025