- Polish thrower Rose Kozakowska has been disqualified from the Paralympic Games in Paris
- 2020 Paralympic gold medalist allegedly used incorrect equipment
- She had sensationally improved her own club throw world record in the F32 event
Paralympic world record thrower Roza Kozakowska was sensationally stripped of her gold medal on Friday and disqualified from the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Kozakowska, winner of gold and silver at Tokyo 2020, appeared to have sensationally broken her own world record and won gold in the F32 classification event.
The 35-year-old athlete broke her own world record of 28.77 metres – set earlier this year in June – with a throw of 31.30 metres on her first attempt.
But the ecstasy soon turned to agony for the Pole after a protest from the Brazilian team – who claimed she was using the “wrong size pillow” to support her head in her seat – led to her disqualification.
In fact, the whole experience was a real torture for Kozakowska, as she reportedly dislocated her shoulder several times during the event, causing her “unbearable pain.”
Polish Paralympic club thrower Roza Kozakowska has been disqualified from the 2024 Paralympic Games
She was also stripped of her second Paralympic gold – and the defence of her Olympic championship, which she first claimed in Tokyo in 2021.
Due to the disqualification of the Polish athlete, Tunisian Maroua Ibrahmi won gold with her final throw of 29.00 meters, improving the existing world record of Kozakowska by 0.23 cm.
It was Maroua’s second gold medal in this event since Rio 2016. Silver in the women’s F32 final went to Parastoo Habibi of Iran, bronze to Giovanna Boscolo Castilho Goncalv of Brazil, the team that filed the complaint against the Polish team.
The Polish Paralympic Committee appealed the decision, but the protest was honored by the event organizers.
Representatives of the Polish Committee a statement released on Saturday, describing the timeline of events: ‘Before midnight on Friday, a protest was lodged by one of the teams, questioning the size of the pillow under our representative’s head.
‘The protest was upheld and as a result Róża was disqualified. The Polish team immediately appealed this decision.
‘This morning the appeals committee met and unfortunately the decision was negative for us.
Tokyo 2020 club throw champion allegedly used ‘incorrect equipment’
‘We take this ruling into account, the sport has strict rules and we have to take that into account.
‘After the Games, when the understandable emotions have subsided, a transparent and thorough procedure will be launched, aimed at clarifying the situation.
‘We keep our fingers crossed for all our Paralympic athletes and wish them success.’
