Klaudia Osipiuk: Rising Star of Polish 400-Meter Running

Klaudia Osipiuk is an emerging force in Polish middle-distance sprinting, specializing in the 400 meters. Hailing from the small village of Dubica Górna in eastern Poland, this determined athlete has rapidly ascended through the ranks of Polish athletics to establish herself as one of the country’s most promising young quarter-milers. Representing AZS AWF Biała Podlaska, Osipiuk combines natural talent with an exceptional work ethic that has already produced national championship gold and international competition success.

Track and Field Accomplishments

Personal Bests and Performance Progression

Osipiuk’s athletic progression has been marked by consistent improvement and breakthrough performances. Her personal best in the 400 meters stands at 53.31 seconds, achieved during the semifinals of the 2025 European U23 Championships in Bergen, Norway. This performance represented a five-second improvement over her entering personal record and demonstrated her ability to rise to the occasion on the international stage.

Throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Osipiuk has shown remarkable development in her signature event. Her personal best in the 300 meters is 39.40 seconds (August 3, 2024), and she has recorded 25.18 seconds in the indoor 200 meters short track (February 4, 2024). This versatility across sprint distances from 60 meters through 800 meters showcases her well-rounded speed and endurance capabilities, though the 400 meters remains her primary focus and greatest strength.

Polish National U23 Championship Gold

At the 42nd Polish U23 National Championships held in Krakow in July 2025, Osipiuk captured her first national title in commanding fashion. Running 53.46 seconds, she claimed the gold medal in the 400 meters, defeating a competitive field that included Dominika Duraj (second place, 53.50) and Martyna Guzowska (third place, 53.71). This victory was particularly significant as it marked her arrival as Poland’s top U23 quarter-miler and secured her qualification for the European U23 Championships.

The championship performance came after less than a year of training under coach Paweł Stempel, demonstrating the effectiveness of their coaching partnership and Osipiuk’s rapid adaptation to elevated training demands. Her coach noted after the race that they had specifically targeted the gold medal and the European qualifying standard, and Osipiuk delivered on both objectives.

Polish National U23 Indoor Silver Medal

Earlier in 2025, at the 69th Polish Indoor National Championships held in Toruń in February, Osipiuk earned the silver medal in the 400 meters U23 category. Competing in one of Poland’s premier indoor venues, she set a new personal record at the time, demonstrating her ability to perform at a high level in both indoor and outdoor conditions. This indoor success foreshadowed her outdoor breakthrough later in the season.

European U23 Championships Breakthrough

The 2025 European U23 Championships in Bergen, Norway (July 17-20), represented Osipiuk’s debut at a major international championship and produced the defining performances of her young career. In the heats, she equaled her personal best of 53.36 seconds, finishing third in her heat to comfortably advance to the semifinals.

The semifinal round brought Osipiuk’s most impressive performance to date. Running in the second semifinal, she clocked 53.31 seconds, shattering her previous personal best by five-hundredths of a second and finishing fifth in her heat. While she narrowly missed the final by just 0.35 seconds—with the eighth and final qualifier running 52.96—her semifinal performance established her as the ninth-fastest U23 400-meter runner in Europe for that championship. The race was won by France’s Alexe Deau (51.67), with strong performances from the Netherlands’ Myrte Van Der Schoot (52.00) and Great Britain’s Poppy Malik (52.00).

Despite falling just short of the final, Osipiuk’s Bergen performance represented a breakthrough on multiple levels: it was her first major international championship, her first time running under 53.40 seconds, and proof that she could compete effectively against Europe’s elite U23 quarter-milers.

European U23 Championships 4x400m Relay Success

Beyond her individual success in Bergen, Osipiuk also contributed significantly to Poland’s 4×400 meter relay team, which reached the final and finished fifth in Europe. In the semifinal, the Polish quartet of Osipiuk, Martyna Guzowska, Paulina Kubis, and Dominika Duraj ran 3:32.94 to finish fourth in their heat and qualify for the final as one of the eight fastest teams.

In the final, competing against the continent’s strongest relay teams, Poland finished fifth with a time of 3:28.66. Great Britain won gold (3:26.52), followed by Spain (3:28.06) and France (3:28.39). The fifth-place finish represented an excellent result for the Polish team and valuable championship experience for Osipiuk, who competed alongside teammates who had also qualified for the individual 400m semifinals. The relay performance demonstrated Poland’s depth in women’s 400-meter running and Osipiuk’s ability to contribute effectively in team competition.

Early Career Development

Osipiuk’s track and field journey has been one of steady progression through Poland’s youth athletics system. Competing for three different clubs during her development—Żak Biała Podlaska, MKS Agros Chełm, and currently AZS AWF Biała Podlaska—she has benefited from coaching at various stages that matched her evolving needs as an athlete.

Her early success includes winning a bronze medal in the 4×400 meter relay at the Polish U18 Championships while competing for Agros Chełm. As a younger athlete, she also achieved success in other events, winning the Województwo (provincial) championship in long jump with a leap of 5.35 meters while in seventh grade, though knee issues prevented her from continuing development in that event.

At the 54th Polish Junior Championships (U20 category), Osipiuk finished fifth in the 400 meters final with a personal best at that time of 57.08 seconds. More significantly, she earned a silver medal in the 4×400 meter relay representing Agros Chełm—an achievement that marked the greatest sporting success in the 75-year history of her high school, Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Wisznice.

As a younger athlete in 2020, competing as a młodzik (youth category), she won provincial championships in the 300 meters and placed ninth nationally in the 600 meters, showing early promise that would later develop into 400-meter specialization.

Education and Athletic Balance

Studies at AWF Biała Podlaska

Osipiuk is currently a student at the Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego (Academy of Physical Education) in Biała Podlaska, pursuing a degree in physical education (wychowanie fizyczne). The choice of this institution has proven ideal for balancing her athletic and academic aspirations, as AWF Biała Podlaska specializes in sports education and provides extensive support for student-athletes.

As a first-year student (as of the 2024-25 academic year), Osipiuk benefits from an individual organization of studies (IOS—indywidualna organizacja studiów), a flexible academic arrangement specifically designed for high-performance athletes. This system allows her to attend modified class schedules that accommodate her training commitments, frequent travel to competitions and training camps, and the demanding schedule of an elite athlete. The IOS arrangement is crucial for athletes like Osipiuk who must balance full-time studies with six training sessions per week and regular national and international competitions.

Athletic Scholarships and Institutional Support

The university provides Osipiuk with comprehensive athletic support, including access to training facilities (stadium, indoor hall, and strength training facilities), all located in one convenient location. This integration of academic and athletic resources eliminates the logistical challenges many student-athletes face when training facilities are separate from their educational institution.

Additionally, Osipiuk receives athletic scholarships based on her competitive results, providing financial support that recognizes her achievements and helps offset the costs associated with elite-level training and competition. Her coach, Paweł Stempel, is also an instructor at AWF Biała Podlaska, teaching in the university’s Department of Track and Field Athletics (Zakład Lekkiej Atletyki), which further facilitates their coaching relationship and ensures seamless coordination between her academic and athletic commitments.

Educational Philosophy and Future Aspirations

In interviews, Osipiuk has expressed appreciation for the supportive environment at AWF Biała Podlaska, noting that the institution understands the demands placed on student-athletes and actively facilitates their dual pursuit of education and athletic excellence. The physical education program not only aligns with her athletic interests but also provides a foundation for potential career paths in coaching, sports education, or sports administration—fields where her competitive experience would be invaluable.

Her choice to study physical education reflects a broader commitment to remaining involved in athletics beyond her competitive career, whether through coaching, teaching, or sports development work. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates maturity in planning for life after competitive athletics while maximizing her current potential as an athlete.

Coaching Relationships and Athletic Development

Family Foundations with Uncle Piotr Osipiuk

Osipiuk’s introduction to serious athletics came through family connections. Her father, a physical education teacher and active athlete himself, provided her first exposure to sports, helping her take her initial steps in various athletic pursuits and experiencing both early successes and setbacks together. However, it was her uncle, Piotr Osipiuk, who specifically introduced her to track and field and served as her first dedicated track coach.

Piotr Osipiuk coached Klaudia through her early development, working with her when she was affiliated with MKS Żak Biała Podlaska and continuing through her time at Agros Chełm. Under his guidance, she developed her fundamental running technique, learned the tactical and strategic elements of 400-meter racing, and earned her first significant medals at national youth championships. The family connection provided not only technical coaching but also the deep trust and understanding that can accelerate an athlete’s development during the crucial formative years.

Current Coaching with Paweł Stempel

In late 2024, Osipiuk began training under Paweł Stempel, mgr (Master’s degree holder), an instructor in the Department of Track and Field Athletics at AWF Biała Podlaska. This coaching change coincided with her enrollment at the university and has produced remarkable results in a short timeframe. Within just eight months of beginning their partnership, Osipiuk improved her 400-meter personal best by approximately two seconds and claimed her first national title.

Stempel’s coaching philosophy emphasizes building a strong foundation based on mutual trust, respect, and excellent communication. As Osipiuk described in an interview: “Coach Paweł Stempel isn’t just someone who sets the training plan. He’s my guide, mentor, someone who helps me achieve goals, both athletic and personal. I’ve always dreamed of such a relationship with a coach—complete professionalism!”

After Osipiuk’s Polish Championship victory, Stempel noted that they were still in the early stages of their coaching relationship and had significant room for continued improvement. He identified specific areas for technical and tactical development while expressing confidence in Osipiuk’s substantial potential reserves. His coaching has focused not just on physical preparation but also on mental preparation, race strategy, and the holistic development necessary for competing at international championship levels.

Looking toward future goals, Stempel has articulated ambitious but realistic targets: qualifying for the World U23 Championships, reaching finals at senior Polish Championships (where she would face world-class athletes like Natalia Bukowiecka and Justyna Święty-Ersetic), and continuing to lower her personal best toward the 52-second range. His patient, developmental approach suggests a long-term vision for Osipiuk’s career rather than seeking immediate results at the expense of sustainable improvement.

Personal Background, Character, and Interests

Origins in Dubica Górna

Klaudia Osipiuk comes from Dubica Górna, a small village in the Biała Podlaska County of eastern Poland’s Lublin Voivodeship. Growing up in this rural community provided a grounded upbringing and strong family connections that continue to support her athletic career. The region has a tradition of producing dedicated, hardworking athletes, and Osipiuk exemplifies these qualities.

Multi-Sport Background

Before specializing in track and field, Osipiuk explored numerous sports with genuine enthusiasm and success. Her first sporting love was team handball, inspired by attending a Champions League match in nearby Lublin. She led her team to county championships in handball, demonstrating early leadership qualities and competitive drive.

Basketball followed, with another county championship showing her natural athleticism across sports. She also competed in volleyball and beach volleyball, even traveling with her father to adult mixed doubles tournaments while still in elementary school, competing against much older opponents and gaining valuable competitive experience.

This multi-sport background developed her overall athleticism, competitive mentality, and movement skills that have translated well to track and field. While knee problems eventually prevented her from continuing in long jump (where she showed significant promise with a 5.35-meter jump as a seventh-grader), these setbacks ultimately directed her toward running events where she has found her greatest success.

Work Ethic and Training Mentality

Osipiuk describes herself as a “pracuś” (hard worker) who isn’t afraid of difficult work and puts her whole heart into everything she does. This self-assessment is confirmed by her training regimen: six sessions per week, year-round commitment, and the mental toughness required to push through challenging workouts and continue improving.

In her own words, she views every race as a battle, approaching competition with determination and focus. This competitive mentality, combined with her work ethic, has enabled her rapid improvement despite being in the youngest year group of the U23 category, regularly competing against athletes two or three years older with more experience.

Role Models and Inspiration

When asked about her inspirations, Osipiuk identified her current coach, Paweł Stempel, as her primary role model. This speaks to the strength of their coaching relationship and the respect she has for his professional approach, technical knowledge, and personal mentorship. Having a coach who serves as both technical expert and personal role model provides powerful motivation and demonstrates the trust and admiration that characterizes their working relationship.

Balancing Athletics and Life

Despite the demanding schedule of being a student-athlete training six times weekly, Osipiuk maintains perspective on the importance of balance. She appreciates the opportunity for rest and recovery between competitive seasons, understanding that sustainable athletic excellence requires periods of physical and mental regeneration. This mature approach to training and recovery bodes well for a long, healthy athletic career.

Her experience managing academics, athletics, and personal life through the IOS program has taught her valuable time management and prioritization skills that will serve her well regardless of her future career direction. The discipline required to excel as a student-athlete translates directly to success in professional life.

Future Goals and Career Trajectory

Short-Term Athletic Objectives

Following her breakthrough 2025 season, Osipiuk and her coach have identified several key objectives for her continued development. The primary goals include:

Breaking the 53-second barrier: Currently running 53.31, Osipiuk is tantalizingly close to joining the sub-53 club, which would place her among Poland’s elite 400-meter runners regardless of age category.

Qualifying for the World U23 Championships: Achieving the World Championship qualifying standard would provide another major international championship opportunity and further valuable experience against global competition.

Reaching finals at senior Polish Championships: Competing in senior national championship finals would provide experience against Poland’s world-class quarter-milers and help bridge the gap between U23 and senior elite levels.

Contributing to relay success: Poland’s women’s 4×400 relay team has shown strong potential, and Osipiuk’s continued improvement could help the team qualify for major senior championships.

Long-Term Career Vision

At just 19 years old (as of 2024-25), Osipiuk has many years ahead in her athletic career. Being in the youngest year group of the U23 category means she has three more years of U23 eligibility, providing time for continued physical maturation, technical refinement, and experience accumulation before fully transitioning to senior competition.

Her coach’s patient, developmental approach suggests a long-term vision focused on sustainable improvement rather than rushing her progression. The goal is clearly to develop her into a senior international-level 400-meter runner capable of competing at European Championships, World Championships, and potentially Olympic Games.

Post-Athletic Career Possibilities

Osipiuk’s education in physical education at AWF Biała Podlaska positions her well for various career paths within sports and education. Potential future roles could include:

• Coaching: Her competitive experience and technical knowledge would make her an effective coach for developing athletes
• Teaching: A degree in physical education opens opportunities in schools and educational institutions
• Sports administration: Working with athletics federations, clubs, or educational institutions in program development
• Sports science: Potentially pursuing graduate studies in exercise physiology, biomechanics, or sports psychology

The combination of elite competitive experience and formal education in physical education is ideal preparation for leadership roles in Polish athletics, whether in coaching, administration, or athlete development programs.

Impact on Polish Athletics

Representing Eastern Poland

As an athlete from Biała Podlaska in the Lublin Voivodeship, Osipiuk represents an important region for Polish athletics. AWF Biała Podlaska has a strong tradition of developing track and field athletes, and her success helps raise the profile of athletics in eastern Poland while inspiring younger athletes in the region.

Her progression through local clubs (Żak Biała Podlaska and Agros Chełm) before joining AZS AWF Biała Podlaska demonstrates the pathway available to talented athletes in smaller communities, showing that world-class development is possible outside Poland’s largest cities.

Contributing to Polish Women’s 400m Depth

Poland has a strong tradition in women’s 400-meter running, producing world-class athletes like Natalia Bukowiecka and Olympic medalist Justyna Święty-Ersetic. Osipiuk represents the next generation of Polish quarter-milers who will carry forward this tradition. Her rapid improvement and competitive performances at the U23 level suggest she has the potential to eventually compete alongside Poland’s senior elite rather than merely succeeding them.

The depth of Polish women’s 400-meter running—demonstrated by multiple athletes qualifying for the European U23 Championships and the strong 4×400 relay team—bodes well for Poland’s continued competitiveness in this event at major championships.

Conclusion

Klaudia Osipiuk exemplifies the dedicated, hardworking athlete who combines natural talent with exceptional work ethic to achieve rapid improvement and competitive success. Her breakthrough 2025 season—highlighted by a Polish U23 national championship, European U23 Championships semifinal appearance with a personal best of 53.31 seconds, and fifth-place relay finish—established her as one of Poland’s most promising young quarter-milers.

The combination of supportive coaching from Paweł Stempel, excellent training facilities and academic flexibility at AWF Biała Podlaska, strong family support, and her own determined personality has created ideal conditions for continued development. Still in the youngest year of the U23 category, she has significant room for physical and technical improvement over the coming years.

As she continues her studies in physical education while pursuing athletic excellence, Osipiuk represents the modern student-athlete who successfully balances academic and athletic commitments. Her journey from small-village origins through Poland’s youth athletics system to European championship competition demonstrates that with dedication, quality coaching, and institutional support, athletes from any background can reach elite levels.

The coming years will reveal whether Osipiuk can continue her upward trajectory to compete successfully at senior international level, but her performances to date suggest she has the talent, work ethic, and support system necessary to achieve her ambitious goals. Whether her future lies in continued competitive excellence, coaching the next generation, or contributing to Polish athletics in other capacities, Klaudia Osipiuk has already established herself as a significant figure in Polish women’s 400-meter running and an inspiration to young athletes throughout eastern Poland.

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