Olympic Highs And Hangovers
Poland got off to a horrendous start at this year's Olympics, and after ten days without a medal, doom-mongers were predicting the country's worst ever performance at the event. But all changed in the closing phase of the games.
As it was, Poland's fencing team picked up the country's first medal on August 15th, winning silver for the men's team epee. From then on it was pretty much a medal a day, with Poland finishing a respectable 20th out of 205 countries (82 nations made it into the final winners' tables).
Golds were grabbed in rowing (men's quadruple sculls), gymnastics (Leszek Blanik for men's vault) and on the field (Tomasz Majewski in men's shot put), backed up by a smattering of silvers and a single bronze.
That said, the games weren't without their embarrassments (although many Poles were more amused than shocked by the out-of-competition revelations). In the doghouse this year was Deputy President of the Polish Athletics Association Jerzy Sudola, who was found asleep - and sozzled - on the lawn of the Olympic village. He has since resigned. Allegations of alcoholic over-indulgence were also flying around in the fencing orbit, with harsh words meted out to trainers and other high-end staff.