Łucja Ochmańska-Bilska (English)

Z Historia Wisły

Łucja Ochmańska-Bilska (born on July 17, 1949, in Krakow) - a gymnast from the TS Wisła gymnastics section, participated in the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968 and the World Championships in Dortmund in 1966. She was a protege of Barbara Ślizowska-Konopka.

As a junior, she won six Polish National Championships titles: in the all-around (1962, 1963, 1965, 1968), in floor exercise (1964), and on the balance beam (1964).

In senior Polish National Championships, she claimed victory four times: in vault (1968), on the balance beam (1967, 1968), and on the uneven bars (1966).

Biography

Łucja Bronisława Ochmańska was born on July 17th, 1949, in Krakow. Her father, Eugeniusz (d. 1981), was a bricklayer, although as a skilled handyman, he could have pursued any profession - he even made furniture for their apartment on Słonecznikowa Street. Her mother, Zofia, nee Majeran (d. 1988), did not work due to health issues. Łucja has two older siblings - a sister, Aleksandra (born 1944), and a brother, Zenon (born 1946), who was a footballer for KS Zwierzyniecki.

Łucja's remarkable sports career began in the autumn of 1958. Encouraged by her friend and neighbor Irenka Górecka, she decided to "enroll" in the club and showed up at Reymonta Street. She was dressed in shiny gray pants with elastic cuffs at the ankles and met with Barbara Ślizowska. As a nine-year-old girl with a boyish haircut, a student of Primary School No. 32 on Queen Jadwiga Street, scratched, with bruises and scabs on her knees, she must have intrigued the exceptional gymnast. Barbara asked her to demonstrate what she could do. The girl performed a series of flips, handstands, and splits. She was accepted into the gymnastics section and began professional training. Unfortunately, Barbara Ślizowska soon became pregnant and took a three-month maternity leave. Łucja was not happy with the substitute, Eugenia Winnicka, and decided to quit. She practiced on her own, much to the annoyance of her parents, performing bridges on the stove, somersaults from the wardrobe to the couch, and climbing the tallest trees in the neighborhood.

When Barbara Ślizowska returned from her maternity leave, she decided to get Łucja back. Initially, she wrote letters to Łucja's parents, who left the decision about whether to continue training at the club up to their daughter. Łucja refused. In late spring 1959, a determined Barbara Ślizowska paid a visit to the Ochmański family and offered Łucja a one-month, completely free, stay at a sports camp by the seaside. She achieved her goal - the rebellious ten-year-old became a member of the gymnastics section at TS Wisła. Barbara Ślizowska provided her with personal care, including making sure the skinny little girl was well-fed.

Gymnastics training was Łucja's passion and joy. She also showcased her skills outside the club, such as in an amateur theatre group formed by the neighborhood kids. In front of Ewa Bel's house, they set up a makeshift stage and invited parents to watch their self-prepared performances. Łucja always included impressive gymnastic displays in their shows.

To be continued...