When Magdalena Andruszkiewicz crossed the line in the women’s T72 400m final at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium erupted.
For the crowd, it was a stunning victory. For the 37-year-old Pole, it was the culmination of seven years of struggle, resilience and unwavering hope.
Seven years ago, a sudden stroke left one side of her body paralysed. “In an instant, my world changed. The life I knew seemed to have ended abruptly,” Magdalena Andruszkiewicz recalls.
But that devastating moment sparked a new journey. During rehabilitation, pedaling on a frame cycle, Andruszkiewicz discovered both her strength and a new passion. “At first, it was about standing on my own two feet. Then it became my passion. Now, it is my life.”
Five years ago, she committed fully to para-athletics. The breakthrough came at the 2024 World Championships in Kobe, Japan, where Magdalena Andruszkiewicz won her first global title in the T72 and set a world record. A year earlier at the Paris World Championships, she had claimed silver in the 400m.
On Sunday in New Delhi, she successfully defended her crown, storming home in 1 minute 13 seconds – just half a second off her own world record.
Magdalena Andruszkiewicz’s ambitions now stretch beyond the world stage. The T72 class will debut at the LA 2028 Paralympics, and she has only one target in mind. “My dream is to win gold in Los Angeles,” she says, smiling with quiet determination. “I will work hard to achieve it.”
Her Indian debut was memorable for more than the medal. Racing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Magdalena Andruszkiewicz was moved by the energy of the crowd. “I’m really enjoying it here. The people, the atmosphere – everything is amazing. India is wonderful.”
Sport is a second act for Andruszkiewicz, who was once a dancer. She credits that background with teaching her balance, rhythm and patience – qualities that became vital in her recovery and success.
“Sports are for everyone,” she tells aspiring para-athletes. “Being physically disabled does not matter – if you have passion, anything is possible.”