The open Polish Armed Forces Cross-Country Skiing Championships were held at Polana Jakuszycka from February 14 to 18. The 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade was represented by Private Iwona Iwaniec, who dominated the women’s competition by winning all three individual races (the sprint, the 4 km race and the 15 km main race—all in the classical technique). The champion then added another gold medal in the relay.
This is how Private Iwaniec describes her performance in the competition:
The weather during the championships was excellent: sunshine and a temperature of +8 degrees Celsius. However, it was difficult to compete on classic-style skis in these conditions and to choose the right wax. In some shaded areas, the snow allowed us to ski, whereas in the sun it gripped the skis very strongly, which required particular caution, as many competitors fell.
She caused a major surprise during the Polish Championships, winning a gold medal in Ski Orienteering on her debut in this type of competition. The event took place on February 18–19. Because this date coincided with the Polish Armed Forces Championships, the competitor from the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade could take part only in the classical race. As she describes it herself: “I entered this competition with serious concerns; it was my debut in orienteering, where one must combine skiing skills with map reading. The skills I acquired during military service helped me. The competition took place on routes deep in the forest, across nearby clearings and sometimes over ungroomed, loosely lying snow. The fact that I had already trained with a map for classic orienteering and was well prepared physically played a very important role. The result itself was quite a surprise to me—winning gold on my debut is something special.”