Polish race walker Katarzyna Zdzieblo may be enjoying a well-deserved vacation after winning silver medals at the world and European athletics championships, but is instead returning to the hospital where she works.
Zdzieblo, 25, finished second in the 20km and 35km walks at the World Championships in Athletics in the United States in July and won another 20km silver in Munich at the European Championships in August.
She can also count getting her medical degree among her accomplishments this year and will return to a hospital in Rzeszow, a city in southeastern Poland, to complete her training.
“I don’t see my return to work in the role of a doctor as a shock with reality but rather as something new,” Zdzieblo told Polish newspaper Sportowe Fakty.
“After so many weeks of training and traveling for the World Championship and in Europe, I find that a change of location, setting and environment is appropriate.”
Once his internship is over, Zdzieblo will have to decide whether or not to postpone his plan to major in radiology and focus on athletics.
“The trend in running is that peak form comes after the age of 30,” she added.
“I don’t look that far into the future because my life has taught me that I can’t think long term and it’s better to focus on what I can do to be happy at some point.”