Former MKS "Bolesławia" athlete Bartosz Gruman, now competing for AZS AWF Wrocław, worked very hard in preparation for the 1996 summer—Olympic—season. He spent most of his time outside Poland (Hungary, Italy). He came to Bolesławiec in June. During this stay, I managed to exchange a few words with him:
—Bartosz, how did you react to the news that the readers of "Głos Bolesławca" had chosen you the most popular athlete of 1995?
—It is very pleasant news for me, especially since a year ago, when I was Polish champion and a representative at the World Junior Championships, I took a distant place in this poll.
—What did your preparations for the Olympic season look like, and how do you assess your form?
—I worked very intensively. I feel well prepared and want to fight for a place on the Olympic team for Atlanta.
—You competed in meets in Italy and Austria. How did you perform?
—In Italy, I performed somewhat worse because of training fatigue, although I improved my personal best. The start in Austria was more successful: I won the 400 m hurdles with a new personal best. The race in the First League of Athletics in Białystok ended with a new personal best—51.28 seconds—and my victory. My last race for the Polish senior national team in Tallinn, Estonia, was very successful. I came second with a time of 50.78 seconds—it is a master-class result.
—On 15 June, you will have your last chance to achieve the Olympic qualifying standard when competing in the 42nd Janusz Kusociński Memorial in Sopot.
—Yes, I will fight to the "end" for my ticket to Atlanta and will try not to disappoint the readers of "Głos" and sports supporters in Bolesławiec.
—We wish you that your dreams come true and that you compete at the Olympics.