# Elwira Seroczyńska

Elwira Seroczyńska, née Potapowicz (1 May 1931 – 24 December 2004) was a Polish speed skater.
Seroczyńska was born as Elwira Potapowicz in Wilno, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania). A graduate of the State Administrative and Economic School in Elbląg (1951), she and became Polish Allround Champion for the first time in 1952. She would eventually become Polish Allround Champion a total of five times, last in 1963. Apart from her allround titles she won 17 distance titles (some also count the out of competition 1953 1000m race as a title) and established 16 official Polish distance records and one combination record. Curiously several combinations skated at Polish championships were never recognised as being a Polish record due to the combination of distances skated. During her skating career she was member of Stal Elbląg (1950–1953), FSO-Stal Warszawa (1954–1957) and Sarmata Warszawa (1957–1964). At the 1960 Winter Olympics, she won a silver medal on the 1,500 m. At the 1962 World Championships in Imatra, she won a Gold Medal on the 500m. After her skating career she studied at the Warsaw Academy of Physical Education (1972), where she received a master's degree and became trainer of the Polish skating team. She died in London, United Kingdom at the age of 73.

## Results

Participations :
| Year | Polish Allround | Polish Distance | Wch Allround | Winter Olympics |
| 1951 | 2nd | 3rd 500m 1st 1000m | | |
| 1952 | 1st | 1st 500m 3rd 3000m 1st 1500m 3rd 5000m | | |
| 1953 | 1st | 1st 500m 1st 3000m 1st 1500m 2nd 5000m | | |
| 1954 | 1st | 2nd 500m 1st 3000m 1st 1000m 1st 5000m | | |
| 1956 | 2nd | 2nd 500m 2nd 1500m 2nd 1000m 3rd 3000m | | |
| 1957 | 2nd | 1st 500m 2nd 1500m 2nd 1000m 3rd 3000m | 11th | |
| 1959 | 1st | 1st 500m 1st 1500m 1st 1000m 2nd 3000m | 10th | |
| 1960 | | | 11th | 6th 500m 2nd 1500m fell 1000m 7th 3000m |
| 1961 | 3rd | 1st 500m 3rd 1500m 3rd 1000m 3rd 3000m | 14th | |
| 1962 | | | 9th | |
| 1963 | 1st | 1st 500m 2nd 1500m 1st 1000m 1st 3000m | NC21 | |
| 1964 | | 4th 500m 4th 1500m 2nd 1000m | | 16th 500m 26th 1500m 22nd 1000m |
medal count :
| Championships | Gold medal | Silver medal | Bronze medal |
| Winter Olympics | | 1 | |
| World Speed Skating Championships | | | |
| Polish Allround | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Polish Distance | 17 | 10 | 8 |

## Personal records

Personal records :
| Distance | Time | Place | Date |
| 500 m | 46.8 | Squaw Valley | 20 Feb 1960 |
| 1,000 m | 1:39.2 | Karuizawa | 22 Feb 1963 |
| 1,500 m | 2:25.7 | Squaw Valley | 21 Feb 1960 |
| 3,000 m | 5:27.3 | Squaw Valley | 23 Feb 1960 |
| 5,000 m | 10:10.0 | Zakopane | 1964 |
| Mini combination | 207.850 | Medeo | 20/21 Jan 1960 |
| Small combination | 247.850 | Zakopane | 01/03 Feb 1953 |
| Old combination | 228.250 | Medeo | 21/22 Jan 1955 |
Best times in Poland :
| Distance | Time | Place | Date |
| 500 m | 48.3 | Zakopane | 25 Feb 1961 |
| 1,000 m | 1:38.4 | Zakopane | 12 Jan 1964 |
| 1,500 m | 2:37.3 | Zakopane | 25 Feb 1961 |
| 3,000 m | 5:36.2 | Zakopane | 27 Jan 1963 |
| 5,000 m | 10:10.0 | Zakopane | 1964 |
| Mini combination | 208.166 | Zakopane | 25/26 Feb 1961 |
| Small combination | 247.850 | Zakopane | 01/03 Feb 1953 |
| Old combination | 235.391 | Zakopane | 05/06 Feb 1954 |