In the recently concluded Polish championship, he finished fourth in 500m, giving way, among others, to Piotr Michalski and Artur Nogal – experienced and accomplished representatives of Poland. If he had ridden according to his personal best (set this season), he would have won a medal. However, the obtained result can hardly be considered a disappointment. Quite the contrary! A year ago, Marek Kania was 1.5 seconds slower. It's a gulf at such a short distance.

At 1000 m, our student came fifth. Right behind Zbigniew Bródka – the Olympic champion from Sochi at 1500 m., who is returning to the competition.

– There is a slight dissatisfaction that I did not manage to win the medal of the Polish championship, but I am still very happy with the results – says Marek Kania. – Last year I would not even have thought that I would join the national leaders so quickly. The goal that I set myself for this competition has been achieved. This fourth and fifth place gives me the opportunity to participate in the World Cup this season.

Olympic dream

After last year's Polish championship, Marek Kania planned to finish competing in speed skating and focus on his second sport passion - rollerblading. But the promising results made him start training with the sprint national team, and he joined them permanently before this season. Today he dreams of competing in the Beijing Olympics.

– Taking part in the Olympic Games is probably every athlete's dream – our student points out. – After all, this prestigious event takes place every four years, and only a small group of the fastest competitors have the opportunity to compete. This year, the results of the first four World Cups, which will take place in the next five weeks in Poland, Norway, the United States and Canada will be the qualifications for the Olympics. To qualify, I have to be in the top 30 competitors in the world and in the fastest three from Poland. It will not be an easy task for sure, but I will do my best and hope it will work out.

Studies and sport

The Games are now my goal number 1. To give them his full attention, Marek Kania has taken a Dean's leave. Automation and robotics will have to wait a bit.

– I enjoy studying at WUT – he says. – Science is a good springboard from sport, and the issues I learn about are interesting, so I like to come back to them. I have been studying at the university for four years, but only one year full time. After I had finished my first year, I took a Dean's leave, and went to Italy with my siblings to train rollerblading.

The pandemic broke out during my stay in Italy.

– When I resumed my second year of studies after my leave, all my classes were conducted remotely, which in a way made it easier for me to combine studying and training, because I could be at sports camps and complete everything at the same time – recalls Marek Kania. – Now that full-time studies are back, I would not be able to devote myself entirely to training. At the moment, I have completed two years of the first degree studies and and I am on my second dean's leave. Combining studying at WUT with high-level training is not easy and you often have to deal with many things individually. Fortunately, most of the professors conducting classes take kindly to my situation.