Belgrade, Serbia – In a momentous achievement for Polish diving, Andrzej Rzeszutek has clinched the gold medal in the men’s 1-meter springboard event at the European Diving Championship. This victory marks the first time a Polish diver has topped the podium in this discipline. The final standings saw Rzeszutek outshine Italian competitors Matteo Santoro and Stefano Belotti, who took silver and bronze respectively.
A Historic Feat for Poland
Rzeszutek’s gold medal was a significant milestone not only for him but for Polish diving history. Heading into the final round in second place, Rzeszutek delivered a stellar performance, capitalizing on a low-scoring dive from frontrunner Matteo Santoro. This leapfrogged him into the lead, with Rzeszutek finishing with a score of 394.40 points, narrowly surpassing Santoro’s 391.70 points.
A Week of Success for Polish Athletes
The Polish contingent had already demonstrated impressive form throughout the competition in Belgrade. Earlier in the week, Aleksandra Błażowska secured a silver medal in the women’s 1-meter springboard event, while the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, comprising Kornelia Fiedkiewicz, Zuzanna Famulok, Wiktoria Guść, and Aleksandra Polańska, earned a bronze medal. These achievements underscored a successful championship for Poland, showcasing the nation’s growing prowess in aquatic sports.
Near Misses and Historic Context
Kacper Lesiak, another Polish diver, narrowly missed out on a podium finish, ending up fourth by a mere 0.2 points behind Belotti. This adds to Poland’s historic medal count in European diving, joining the ranks of Jerzy Kowalewski, who claimed a bronze in 1966 in Utrecht in the platform event.
Results of Thursday’s Finals:
- Men’s 1-Meter Springboard
- Andrzej Rzeszutek (Poland) – 394.40 points
- Matteo Santoro (Italy) – 391.70 points
- Stefano Belotti (Italy) – 370.50 points
- Kacper Lesiak (Poland) – 370.30 points
Rzeszutek’s triumph not only adds a prestigious gold to Poland’s tally but also inspires future generations of Polish divers to aim for excellence on the European stage.
