Polish speed climber Aleksandra Mirosław has concluded her career by winning a bronze medal at the European Championships in Laval, France. The Olympic champion announced on her 32nd birthday on 2 February 2026 that the 2026 season would be the final competitive campaign of her sporting life.
Mirosław explained her decision in a video published on social media, speaking with a breaking voice about her choice to step away from elite sport. She said the idea had emerged many years ago and had matured over a long period. She added that she had known for a long time that she wanted to leave the sporting world on her own terms, on top, and in her own way, noting that the day had finally arrived.
Earlier in her farewell season, the 32-year-old climber confirmed her standing among the world elite by advancing to the final of a World Cup event in Kraków, Poland. However, she was unable to secure a victory in front of her home crowd after recording a false start in the deciding race.
Final competition in Laval
Her final career start took place at the European Championships held in the French town of Laval. Mirosław began the competition in dominant fashion, winning the qualification round in a time of 6.19 seconds. Her teammate Aleksandra Kałucka finished directly behind her in second place, while defending European champion Natalia Kałucka and Anna Brożek also qualified for the medal rounds.
The knockout stages brought unexpected developments for the Polish contingent. Brożek was eliminated in the round of 16, which proved too difficult an obstacle for her. The quarter-finals produced a major surprise when Aleksandra Kałucka was disqualified for a false start. Her sister Natalia Kałucka and Mirosław both secured comfortable victories to reach the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, neither Polish competitor managed to reach the gold medal contest. Natalia Kałucka, who had won the European title two years earlier, was defeated by Beatrice Colli. Mirosław fell just short of the final, losing her semi-final match to Elizaveta Ivanova by a narrow margin of 0.05 seconds.
Polish duel for bronze
The semi-final results paired the two Polish teammates in a direct head-to-head duel for the bronze medal. Mirosław took control of the race from the start, leading all the way to cross the finish line in 6.185 seconds to claim third place. Natalia Kałucka also delivered a strong performance in the race but finished 0.26 seconds behind her compatriot.
Mirosław leaves competitive climbing as one of the most successful athletes in the discipline, which involves competitors racing up a standardized 15-metre wall. The highlight of her career came in 2024 when she won the Olympic gold medal in Paris. Over her career, she was crowned world champion three times, won two European Championship gold medals, and broke the speed climbing world record 11 times.
