# Karol Zalewski

Karol Zalewski (Polish pronunciation:; born 7 August 1993) is a Polish athlete who specialises in the sprinting events. He reached the semifinals of the 2013 World Championships in the 200 metres. He is also the 2013 European U23 champion over that distance.

## Career

The Polish quartet of Karol Zalewski, Rafał Omelko, Łukasz Krawczuk, Jakub Krzewina broke the world indoor record in the men's 4 × 400 m with a stunning finish to the final track event of the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. Krzewina overtook the leaders from the beginning - Americans on the last straight and achieved the greatest success in their career.

## Competition record

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Poland ||||||
| 2011 | European Junior Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | – | 200 m | DQ |
| 2012 | World Junior Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 4th | 200 m | 20.54 |
| 2012 | World Junior Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 4th | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.47 |
| 2012 | World Junior Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.05 |
| 2013 | European U23 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 1st | 200 m | 20.41 |
| 2013 | European U23 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 2nd | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.81 |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 20th (sf) | 200 m | 20.66 |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 11th (h) | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.51 |
| 2014 | World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 13th | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.31 |
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 8th | 200 m | 20.58 |
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 6th | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.85 |
| 2015 | European Indoor Championships | Prague, Czech Republic | 6th (sf) | 400 m | 46.84 |
| 2015 | European Indoor Championships | Prague, Czech Republic | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.97 |
| 2015 | World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 4th | 4 × 200 m relay | 1:22.85 |
| 2015 | World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 11th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.13 |
| 2015 | European U23 Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | 1st | 200 m | 20.49 |
| 2015 | European U23 Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | – | 4 × 100 m relay | DQ |
| 2015 | European U23 Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.35 |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 40th (h) | 200 m | 20.77 |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 8th (sf) | 200 m | 20.69 |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 6th | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.69 |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 37th (h) | 200 m | 20.54 |
| 2018 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.77 WIR |
| 2018 | European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 4th | 400 m | 45.34 |
| 2018 | European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 5th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.27 |
| 2019 | European Indoor Championships | Glasgow, United Kingdom | 11th (h) | 400 m | 47.45$^1$ |
| 2019 | World Relays | Yokohama, Japan | 7th (B) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.91 |
| 2021 | World Relays | Chorzów, Poland | 4th | 4 × 200 m relay | DNF |
| 2021 | World Relays | Chorzów, Poland | 9th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.04 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 47th (h) | 400 m | 2:15.38 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 5th | 4 × 400 m relay | 2:58.46 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 1st | 4 × 400 m mixed relay | 3:09.87 OR |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | 9th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.51 |
| 2022 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 6th | 400 m | 45.62 |
| 2022 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 9th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.95 |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 39th (h) | 400 m | 46.53 |
| 2024 | European Championships | Rome, Italy | 10th (h) | 400 m | 45.80$^1$ |
| 2024 | European Championships | Rome, Italy | – | 4 × 400 m relay | DQ |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 12th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.21 |
$^1$Did not start in the semifinals

## Personal bests

Outdoor
* 100 metres – 10.25 (+0.9 m/s, Bydgoszcz 2013)
* 200 metres – 20.26 (-0.3 m/s, Sopot 2016)
* 400 metres – 45.11 (Berlin 2018)
Indoor
* 60 metres – 6.75 (Spała 2016)
* 200 metres – 20.64 (Toruń 2018)
* 400 metres – 46.20 (Toruń 2018)