Robert Maćkowiak (born 13 May 1970 in Rawicz, Wielkopolskie) is a former Polish sprinter. Together with Tomasz Czubak, Jacek Bocian and Piotr Haczek he won the gold medal in 4 × 400 metres relay at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics. Maćkowiak has also won other relay medals as well as individual medals in the 200 metres and 400 metres.
He belonged to the most famous and successful Polish relay team in the 1990s together with Tomasz Czubak, Piotr Haczek and Piotr Rysiukiewicz. Numerous injuries prevented them from joining the best relays of all time. The worst disaster happened in the Olympic Games in Sydney. The Polish team was one of the favourites to win a medal (after unstoppable U.S. really there were two main rivals: Jamaica and Bahamas). On the second leg (on the first ran Rysiukiewicz) Maćkowiak was leading, but he ran into a starting box (Polish team ran on the eighth lane) and Poland lost their medal chances. The relay finished seventh in the competition. Maćkowiak also competed in the individual race in which he finished fifth.
Maćkowiak was also one of the favourites in the World Championships in Edmonton 2001). His main rival was German runner Ingo Schultz who had best times in qualification runs. Maćkowiak was a candidate for silver but he got an injury a few days before final and he lost all medal chances. He also didn't start in the relay run which took place a few days after individual start.
He officially retired at the end of the 2006 season.
Competition record Representing 1989European Junior ChampionshipsVaraždin, Yugoslavia7th200 m21.591st4 × 100 m relay40.001991World ChampionshipsTokyo, Japan9th (sf)4 × 100 m relay39.081992European Indoor ChampionshipsGenoa, Italy5th200 m21.761994European ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland6th4 × 400 m relay3:04.221995World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden31st (h)200 m20.835th4 × 400 m relay3:03.841996European Indoor ChampionshipsStockholm, Sweden –200 mDQOlympic GamesAtlanta, United States20th (qf)200 m20.616th4 × 400 m relay3:00.961997World Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France4th400 m45.94World ChampionshipsAthens, Greece9th (qf)400 m45.26 (NR) 3rd4 × 400 m relay3:00.261998European Indoor ChampionshipsValencia, Spain 3rd400 m46.00Goodwill GamesUniondale, United States2nd4 × 400 m relay2:58.00 (NR)European ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary 2nd400 m45.04 2nd4 × 400 m relay2:58.881999World Indoor ChampionshipsMaebashi, Japan 2nd4 × 400 m relay3:03.01 (iAR)World ChampionshipsSeville, Spain9th (qf)400 m45.23 1st4 × 400 m relay2:58.912000Olympic GamesSydney, Australia5th400 m45.147th4 × 400 m relay3:03.222001World Indoor ChampionshipsLisbon, Portugal15th (h)400 m47.24 1st4 × 400 m relay3:04.47World ChampionshipsEdmonton, Canada3rd (sf)400 m44.84Did not finish in the final2002European Indoor ChampionshipsVienna, Austria 3rd200 m20.77 1st4 × 400 m relay3:05.50European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany –4 × 400 m relayDQ2005European Indoor ChampionshipsMadrid, Spain –4 × 400 m relayDQWorld ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland5th4 × 400 m relay3:00.58
Personal bests Outdoor 200 metres - 20.61 s (1996) 400 metres - 44.84 s (2001)
Indoor 200 metres - 20.68 s (2002) 400 metres - 45.94 s (1997)
See also Polish records in athletics
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References