Roman Korban, one of the oldest Polish Olympic athletes, died on January 15 in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 96.
Roman Korban, born on May 23, 1926 in Nadvorna (Stanislavov Voivodeship), took part in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. He was eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the 800 meters, finishing fourth in a third-place time of 1:54.7 out of six athletes. He brought back two medals from the Academic World Championships held in Berlin in 1951 – silver in the 800 meters and bronze in the 4×400 meters relay.
See also: Polish speed rider died
In 1949-1953, he played six times in international matches of the Polish national team. He set the national record twice. On July 12, 1953, he ran 1000 m in Zabrze in 2:27.0, and on August 15, 1951, in Berlin with the representative 4×400 m relay team, he achieved a result of 3:17.2. He played for OMTUR Gdynia and Zryw and Spółnia clubs from Gdańsk.
He won the title of Polish champion three times, twice in 800 m (1951-1952) and 1500 m (1951). He also won four silver medals in the national championships – 800m (1949, 1950 and 1953) and 4x400m relay (1949). He was also a multiple medalist of the Polish domestic championship.
He graduated from junior high school and adult high school in Gdynia in 1952, in 1956 he graduated from the Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw. He received his doctorate after 16 years. He was a valued trainer not only in Poland, where in 1965-1968 he headed the Central Board of PZLA Trainers. In 1972-1975 he lived in the USA, and in 1981 he settled in Australia.
Roman Corban is the author of many books, including 35 Years of Olympic Sports Glory, Sport Among Polish Americans and Welcome to Australia.
The oldest Polish Olympian is Eugeniusz Stanislaw Lewacki, born on January 24, 1926 in Krakow, who competed in the Olympic ice hockey tournaments in St. Petersburg. Moritz (1948) and Oslo (1952).
jb, PAP
