World Athletics President Sebastian Coe today accepted historic donations on behalf of the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) from six world champions during a special ceremony at the Toruń Plaza shopping centre.
The event, held within the MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26, celebrated both the global reach of indoor track and field and Polish athletics history. Officially opened on 20 February, the exhibition has been a focal point for athletics fans and the general public alike, highlighting the widespread passion for the sport ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
“From donations of historic competition items generously given to the Museum of World Athletics by six world champions, to the honouring of Poland’s first ever men’s Olympic champion across all sports, this afternoon’s MOWA ceremony celebrated our sport’s rich history,” said Coe.
“The MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26, which over the last month has been viewed by more than 55,000 visitors to the Torun Plaza shopping centre, has emphatically confirmed the deep culture and love of track and field athletics which thrives in Poland.”
A gathering of champions
Six iconic athletes, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the history of indoor athletics, took to the stage to personally hand over competition items from their careers to Coe. Following each donation, World Athletics Heritage Director Chris Turner presented each athlete with an exclusive MOWA Donor’s Pin, a unique mark of distinction for those who contribute to the museum’s collection, helping to preserve athletics history.
Sebastian Chmara gave his bodysuit and diploma from his 1999 world indoor heptathlon title, the first ever Polish victory at the World Indoor Championships.
“That victory (in 1999) was an important part of my life,” he said. “Staying in athletics after retirement is the best channel for an athlete because you’ve met so many people and made so many friends, it’s important to give back to the sport.”
Nelli Cooman, the two-time world indoor 60m gold medallist from the Netherlands, donated her golden spike shoes which she wore in 1986 when setting the world indoor 60m record (7.00), and her 1985 European Indoor Championships winning uniform and bib and leg numbers.
“I was always more competitive indoors because you can prepare for much longer time during fall and winter before the World Indoor Championships, compared to only two months remaining before the outdoor season,” she said. “I’ve changed my hairstyle since I retired but when people in Netherlands hear my voice, people shout Hey, it’s Nelli Cooman!”
Daniel Komen, the 1997 world 5000m champion and multiple world record-breaker from Kenya, presented his 5000m world indoor record spikes from 1998.
“Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but what remains his friendship – that’s what sport is about; bringing people together,” he said. “Haile (Gebrselassie) is now a great friend, even though we were great rivals on the track.”
MOWA lives and breathes history
Adam Kszczot of Poland donated the singlet we wore during his 2018 world indoor 800m win.
“MOWA lives and breathes history of our sport, and will be there for future generations of athletes and fans,” he said. “These are the last pieces of uniform I have from Birmingham (2018 World Indoor Championships); I’ve given my spikes and all my other things from those championships to schools and athletics clubs to inspire and that’s why I’m giving this shirt to MOWA, to encourage others in the future.”
Algeria’s Noureddine Morceli, the 1996 Olympic, three-time world outdoor and 1991 world indoor 1500m champion, contributed by giving with his Tokyo 1991 World Championships singlet, bib, shorts and spikes.
“There is a bond among the world mile record holders,” he said. “It’s a record I knew had to break in my career, I tried many times and finally managed to enter the club along with Seb Coe and Steve Ovett.”
Paweł Wojciechowski, the 2011 world pole vault gold medallist from Poland, presented a personalised pole vault pole sleeve used during the 2018 to 2021 seasons.
“In my youth my hero was Sergey Bubka of course, and when I won my world title in 2011, I was very lucky that Mondo Duplantis was only 13 years old,” he joked. “I’m loving being an ambassador of these World Indoor Championships in my home region, though I’m happy I’m an exhausted organiser!”
Honouring Janusz Kusociński
The ceremony took a poignant turn with the posthumous awarding of the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the ‘Legend’ category to Janusz Kusociński.
Kusociński was Poland’s first male Olympic gold medallist in any sport, winning the 10,000m at the 1932 Los Angeles Games in an Olympic record time. His life was tragically cut short during World War II when he was executed for his role in the Polish resistance.
Sebastian Chmara, in his capacity as President of the Polish Athletics Association and Meeting Director of the Kusociński Memorial, accepted the plaque from Coe. The honour serves as a lasting tribute to a man whose bravery on and off the track remains a cornerstone of Polish sporting identity.
The involvement of the host region was symbolised by the donation of the official championships’ mascot, Goosia. Assisted by six young athletes from the local MKL Toruń club, Valerie Adams, four-time world indoor shot put champion and Athlete Ambassador, carried the mascot costume on to the stage.
Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Region, and Krzysztof Wolsztyński, President of the LOC, officially presented the costume, along with a championships medal and relay baton, to the MOWA. In recognition of their vital support in staging the MOWA exhibition, they were each presented with commemorative World Athletics Heritage Trophies by Coe.
During the last month, the MOWA exhibition in Torun has acted as a bridge between the legends of the past and the stars of the present, ensuring that the stories of these champions and the spirit of Polish athletics continue to inspire the next generation.
PJ Vazel for World Athletics Heritage
