Janusz Jan Sidło (19 June 1933 – 2 August 1993) was a Polish javelin thrower. He competed at the 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympics and finished in 18th, 2nd, 8th, 4th and 7th place, respectively. He was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and later the Knight's Cross. During his long career Sidło won 14 national titles and competed in five European Championships (1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, and 1969), winning them in 1954 and 1958 and medalling in 1969.
In 1954 and 1955, he was chosen the Polish Sportspersonality of the Year.
In October 1953, Sidło set a new European javelin record at 80.15 m in Jena. In June 1956, he set a world record at the 83.66 m in Milan. He went to the 1956 Summer Olympics as a favourite, and was equipped with a modern javelin made of steel, while most of his competitors still used wooden ones. Sidło led the competition with a throw of 79.98 m, but then lent his javelin to his poorly performing friend, Egil Danielsen from Norway. Danielsen set a new world record at 85.71 m and won the gold medal.
International competitions Representing 1951World Festival of Youth and Students Berlin, East Germany1st66.38 m1952Olympic GamesHelsinki, Finland18th (q)62.16 m1954World Student Games Budapest, Hungary1st75.24 mEuropean ChampionshipsBern, Switzerland1st76.35 m1955World Festival of Youth and Students Warsaw, Poland1st77.93 m1956Olympic GamesMelbourne, Australia2nd79.98 m1957World Festival of Youth and Students Moscow, Soviet Union1st80.12 m1958European ChampionshipsStockholm, Sweden1st80.18 m1959World Festival of Youth and Students Vienna, Austria1st76.53 m1960Olympic GamesRome, Italy8th76.46 m1961Universiade Sofia, Bulgaria2nd77.48 m1962World Festival of Youth and Students Helsinki, Finland2nd72.59 mEuropean ChampionshipsBelgrade, Yugoslavia7th75.01 m1964Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan4th80.17 m1966European ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary7th78.86 m1968Olympic GamesMexico City, Mexico7th80.58 m1969European ChampionshipsAthens, Greece3rd82.90 m
References
Janusz Sidło . sports-reference.com Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Javelin Throw . sports-reference.com