Naja, Karolina

NOC Poland   
GenderWomen
Born05 Feb 1990 in Tychy, POL
Height1.65 m
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team KS Posnania: Poland
Why this sport? She got involved in the sport with her friends. "Canoeing is a unique sport. At first it was fun and an adventure. Later it became a way of life."
Name of coach Tomasz Kryk [national], POL
When and where did you begin this sport? She took up the sport in 2001 in Tychy, Poland.
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Languages Polish
General Interest
Awards and honours She was honoured with the Silver Cross of Merit by the president of Poland in 2013. (sejm.gov.pl, 06 Jun 2013)
Sporting philosophy / motto "Step by step." (pzkaj.pl, 23 Nov 2015)
Memorable sporting achievement Winning bronze in the K2 500m at the Olympic Games in both 2012 and 2016. (polsatsport.pl, 28 Oct 2019)
Famous relatives Her partner Lukasz Woszczynski has represented Poland in canoe sprint and placed fifth in the C2 1000m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. (sportowygorzow.pl, 05 Jul 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 28 Feb 2020)
Ambitions To win an Olympic gold medal. (Facebook page, 05 Feb 2020)
Other information MOTHERHOOD
After giving birth to her son Mieczyslaw in December 2017, she was training again with the Polish national team three months later, and began taking her son with her to training camps and competitions. She says becoming a mother has allowed her to develop as an athlete. "I knew it would be fine, because my canoeing talent would not just disappear. I receive so much support from my partner Lukasz, my teammates and coach [Tomasz] Kryk. Also [Mieczyslaw's] grandparents help a lot. I have to admit that combining maternity and a sporting career is no easy thing. I thought it would be easier, but we have been able to handle it. I have an opportunity to fulfil myself in both sport and as a mother. Becoming a mother helped me in sport. Because I have less time and more responsibilities, I am more focused on things that are really important in realising my goals. There is no time for worries, to think about unimportant things. I learned to look at sport in a different way, to not think only about goals, but to really enjoy the journey, training and all that we have achieved with this team." (tvp.pl, 15 May 2019; sportowygorzow.pl, 05 Jul 2019; siodma9.pl, 23 Nov 2020)
Further Personal Information
Family Partner Lukasz Woszczynski, son Mieczyslaw [2017]

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2020 2 K2 500m   Tokyo
2020 3 K4 500m   Tokyo
2016 3 K2 500m   Rio de Janeiro
2016 Final B K4 500m   Rio de Janeiro
2012 3 K2 500m   London
2012 4 K4 500m   London
World Championships
2023 2 K4 500m   Duisburg
2022 1 K2 500m   Halifax, NS
2022 1 K4 500m   Halifax, NS
2019 2 K2 500m   Szeged
2019 3 K4 500m   Szeged
2018 3 K4 500m   Montemor-o-Velho
2015 4 K2 500m   Milan
2015 4 K4 500m   Milan
2014 3 K2 500m   Moscow
2014 2 K4 500m   Moscow
2014 1 K1 4 x 200m Relay   Moscow
2013 2 K2 200m   Duisburg
2013 3 K2 500m   Duisburg
2013 4 K4 500m   Duisburg
2013 2 K1 4 x 200m Relay   Duisburg
2011 2 K2 200m   Szeged
2011 3 K1 4 x 200m Relay   Szeged
2010 3 K4 500m   Poznan
2010 5 K1 4 x 200m Relay   Poznan
World Cup
2023 10 K1 500m   Szeged
2023 1 K4 500m   Poznan
2023 6 K4 500m   Szeged
2022 1 K2 500m   Racice
2022 1 K4 500m   Poznan
2022 1 K4 500m   Racice
2021 14 K1 200m   Szeged
2021 4 K4 500m   Szeged
2019 10 K1 200m   Duisburg
2019 6 K1 500m   Poznan
2019 2 K2 500m   Szeged
2019 3 K4 500m   Szeged
2019 3 K4 500m   Duisburg
2019 3 K4 500m   Poznan
2018 3 K4 500m   Montemor-o-Velho
2018 2 K4 500m   Duisburg
2016 1 K2 500m   Montemor-o-Velho
2016 2 K2 500m   Duisburg
2016 1 K4 500m   Montemor-o-Velho
2016 3 K4 500m   Duisburg
2015 4 K1 200m   Montemor-o-Velho
2015 4 K2 500m   Milan
2015 2 K2 500m   Duisburg
2015 4 K4 500m   Milan
2015 2 K4 500m   Duisburg
2015 2 K4 500m   Montemor-o-Velho
2015 21 Individual Kayak   Overall
2014 1 K1 200m   Szeged
2014 3 K1 200m   Racice
2014 3 K1 200m   Milan
2014 5 K1 500m   Milan
2014 3 K2 500m   Moscow
2014 2 K2 500m   Szeged
2014 2 K4 500m   Moscow
2014 1 K4 500m   Racice
2014 3 Individual Kayak   Overall
2013 3 K1 200m   Poznan
2013 3 K2 500m   Duisburg
2013 4 K4 500m   Duisburg
2013 2 K4 500m   Poznan
2013 11 Individual Kayak   Overall
2012 2 K1 200m   Poznan
2012 2 K1 200m   Poznan
2012 3 K2 500m   Duisburg
2012 3 K2 500m   Duisburg
2012 12 Individual Kayak   Overall
2011 11 K1 200m   Duisburg
2011 3 K4 500m   Duisburg
2011 3 K4 500m   Duisburg
2011 4 K4 500m   Poznan
2011 4 K4 500m   Poznan
2010 3 K4 500m   Poznan
2010 5 K4 500m   Szeged
2010 5 K4 500m   Vichy
2009 23 K1 500m   Poznan
2009 13 K2 500m   Szeged
2009 13 K2 1000m   Szeged
2009 7 K4 500m   Szeged
2009 7 K4 500m   Poznan
2008 3 K4 1000m   Poznan
European Championships
2023 1 K2 500m   Kraków
2022 1 K2 500m   Oberschleißheim
2022 1 K4 500m   Oberschleißheim
2021 2 K2 500m   Poznan
2018 5 K4 500m   Belgrade
2015 2 K2 200m   Racice
2015 1 K2 500m   Racice
2015 2 K2 1000m   Racice
2014 7 K2 200m   Brandenburg
2014 2 K2 500m   Brandenburg
2014 2 K4 500m   Brandenburg
2013 2 K2 200m   Montemor-o-Velho
2013 1 K2 500m   Montemor-o-Velho
2013 1 K2 1000m   Montemor-o-Velho
2012 3 K2 500m   Zagreb
2012 1 K2 1000m   Zagreb
2011 4 K2 1000m   Belgrade
2011 7 K4 500m   Belgrade
2010 8 K2 200m   Trasona
2010 4 K4 500m   Trasona
2009 Final B K1 500m   Brandenburg
2009 8 K4 200m   Brandenburg
Olympic Qualification Tournament Europe
2012 3 K1 500m   Poznan
European Games
2023 1 K2 500m   Kraków
2023 1 K4 500m   Kraków
2019 4 K2 200m   Minsk
2019 3 K4 500m   Minsk
2015 5 K2 200m   Baku
2015 6 K2 500m   Baku
2015 3 K4 500m   Baku
European Juniors & U23 Championships
2013 1 K1 200m   Poznan
2011 3 K1 200m   Zagreb
2011 2 K1 500m   Zagreb
2011 5 K4 500m   Zagreb
2009 5 K2 500m   Poznan
2009 1 K4 500m   Poznan
2008 6 K1 500m   Szeged
2008 6 K2 1000m   Szeged
2008 3 K4 500m   Szeged
2007 1 K2 1000m   Belgrade
2007 2 K4 500m   Belgrade