Marian Foik

Marian Foik was a Polish athlete who mainly competed in the 100 metres. He was nicknamed "White Lightning" for his speed and ability to challenge the black sprinters who dominated the sport. He competed at three Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the 4 x 100 metre relay in 1964 in Tokyo. He also won two silver medals at the European Championships in 1962 in Belgrade, in the 200 metres and the 4 x 100 metre relay. He was the Polish champion in the 100 metres six times, in the 200 metres six times, and in the 4 x 100 metre relay five times. He set 30 national records in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and the 4 x 100 metre relay. His personal bests were 10.2 seconds in the 100 metres, 20.6 seconds in the 200 metres, and 48.9 seconds in the 400 metres. He was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 1964. He died of a heart attack in 2005 in Warsaw. He was buried at the Bródno Cemetery in Warsaw. He is remembered as one of the greatest Polish sprinters of all time.