natalia maliszewska

Natalia Maliszewska was born on September 16, 1995, in Bialystok, Poland. She began short track speed skating in 2004, influenced by her older sister, Patrycja Maliszewska, who was also a competitive skater. Natalia joined Juvenia Bialystok, the local club in her hometown. Her early career saw her develop into a promising athlete, aiming to emulate her sister’s success and establish her own presence in the sport. Before her international breakthroughs, she dedicated herself to training, preparing for a professional career in short track speed skating.

Maliszewska achieved a significant milestone in 2015, becoming the first Polish short track skater to reach a World Cup podium by placing second in the 500m event in Montreal, QC, Canada. Her career continued to progress, leading to her participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics. In 2018, she secured a silver medal in the 500m at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada, marking a historic achievement as the first Polish short track skater to medal at a World Championship. The following year, 2019, she claimed a European title in the 500m at the European Championships in Dordrecht, Netherlands, further cementing her position as a leading athlete in her discipline. She also won the overall classification in the 500m in the 2018/19 World Cup season.

Throughout her career, Maliszewska has continued to compete at a high level. She earned a silver medal in the 500m at the 2021 European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdańsk and another silver in the same event at the 2023 European Championships. Although she faced a setback at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing due to COVID-19, which prevented her from competing in the 500m event, she later participated in other races. She maintains her profession as an Armed Forces Athlete and was recognized with the 2020 Best Athlete award in Bialystok.