"VAN" (Sports Desk, New Delhi - 29.09.2025) :: When Magdalena Andruszkiewicz crossed the finishing line in the women’s T72 400-meter final at the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium erupted. For the spectators, it was simply a magnificent victory; for Magdalena, it symbolized seven years of struggle, resilience, and unwavering hope.
The story of the 37-year-old Polish athlete is extraordinary. Seven years ago, a sudden stroke left one side of her body paralyzed. Magdalena recalls, “In an instant, my world changed. The life I knew seemed to have ended abruptly.”
But that moment became the beginning of a new and inspiring journey. During physical therapy, as Magdalena Andruszkiewicz pedaled on a frame cycle, she slowly discovered a passion for sports. “At first, it was just about trying to stand on my own two feet. Then it became my passion, and now it is my life,” she says.
Five years ago, Magdalena fully embraced para athletics. In the previous edition of the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, she won her first world championship title in the T72 category, setting a world record. Earlier, she had claimed a silver medal in the T72 400-meter event at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.
On Sunday in New Delhi, Magdalena successfully defended the title she had won in Kobe. Completing the race in 1 minute 13 seconds, her performance was just half a second shy of her own world record.
Magdalena’s dreams go beyond winning medals. The T72 category will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, and her goal is clear. Smiling with determination, she says, “My dream is to win gold (in LA), and I will work hard to achieve it.”
Her experience in India was particularly special. Racing here for the first time, she was deeply moved by the warmth and energy of the crowd. “I’m really enjoying it here. The people and the atmosphere—everything is amazing. India is wonderful,” she says.
Before her stroke, Magdalena was a dancer—a discipline that later became the foundation of her athletic journey. “Dance taught me balance, rhythm, and patience. All of these helped me in my recovery,” she explains.
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Magdalena was not just celebrating a victory on the track. She was proving that no matter what happens, new beginnings are possible, life can be lived again, and with unwavering determination, humans can achieve the extraordinary.
Today, Magdalena is not only a champion on the track but also a symbol of courage and hope. Addressing aspiring para-athletes, she says, “Sports are for everyone. Being physically disabled does not matter—if you have passion, anything is possible.”
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