By News18,Rudransh Khurana

Copyright news18

Poland’s Paralympic champion club thrower Roza Kozakowska was still lying in a Delhi hospital bed on Tuesday morning but within hours returned to action to win a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships, thanks to prompt response from the medical staff.
The 36-year-old Kozakowska’s life has been marked by resilience. She underwent chemotherapy as a child for a genetic blood disorder, battled Lyme disease that left her quadriplegic, and survived a troubled childhood.
Her iron will is evident. From excelling in long jump at the 2019 World Championships to capturing gold and silver at the Tokyo Paralympics, she has become one of Poland’s most inspiring athletes.
Her F32 gold medal at New Delhi’s World Para Athletics Championships will perhaps be remembered as the most dramatic.
According to Brigadier Dr. Bibhu Nayak, Head of Medical Services for the Championships, an SOS call came at 4 am on Tuesday from the Polish team’s doctor. Kozakowska had collapsed in her room, suffering from severe dehydration, vomiting, and heat stroke.
Dr. Nayak stated that when their doctors reached her, she was in a critical state, lying unconscious and unable to respond. She was immediately rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where doctors administered fluids and antibiotics.
Roza recalled those tense hours, saying that at 10 in the morning, she was still in a hospital bed with zero energy, thinking the competition was impossible. But by noon, she insisted on being discharged, telling her team that she came to compete, not just to be present.
Defying medical advice, she returned to the stadium with the help of her national medical team. Still visibly weak, she stepped into the throwing circle that evening. Summoning every ounce of inner strength, Kozakowska launched the club to 29.30m, just shy of the world record 29.36m, but enough to set a new championship record and claim gold for Poland.
Manish Rana, the Director of Sports Development and Performance of the Paralympic Committee of India, spoke about the availability of comprehensive medical services with adequately trained staff for all possible medical recovery needs of the athletes. He mentioned that they had prepared a special heat treatment room to cater to the climatic conditions and ensure the medical centre could handle all eventualities.
Kozakowska expressed her gratitude to the doctors, saying she owes the medal to the doctors at the Athlete Medical Centre, especially Dr. Irfan at the JLN Stadium, her team, and the belief that she must never give up.