At the Impact’22 congress in Poznań on May 11 and 12, attendees will have the opportunity to meet not only managers from global companies, politicians, experts, and scientists, but also distinguished Polish athletes who need no introduction: Anita Włodarczyk and Robert Kubica. Their international success, much like in the business world, stems from several components such as talent, hard work, and determination. Anita Włodarczyk is the greatest hammer thrower in history, an icon of Polish and world athletics. She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist (London – Rio – Tokyo), a four-time world and European champion, and the world record holder in the hammer throw with a mark of 82.98m. Włodarczyk became the first woman in the world to throw the hammer beyond the 80-meter mark. In interviews, Anita Włodarczyk notes the immense power of support: – My coach and parents always told me: “Your goal is many victories, not just one.” When asked what contributed to her worldwide success, she emphasizes that her parents were a great support in pursuing her goals: – They told me to follow my own path and not give up. They raised me to be tough. When I returned from training exhausted, my mother would apply compresses, but she never said: “Oh, child, take it easy, why bother with all this effort.” She would ask what problems I had, what I managed to improve. I know that in this regard, my parents were exceptional because many of my friends complained that when they returned from training camps, no one even asked them how it went. I had support. Financial support too. Without it, I wouldn't have managed, because I received a 300 zloty scholarship for athletic achievements at the University of Physical Education. Not enough to sustain myself and train. My friends gave up on sports; after classes, they had to go to work. I survived thanks to my mom and dad. However, she admits that perseverance and self-discipline are also qualities of immeasurable importance in sports. From her student days, she recalls that when other students went out to parties, she stayed behind to catch up on university studies, which were affected by numerous training sessions and training camps. She says that in her case, temptations never triumphed over discipline. – That's just how my psyche is constructed. I know what I'm aiming for, and nothing can turn me away from my path. Sacrifices? I told myself that my sports results would compensate me for them. It probably would have been harder if I had to wait longer for success, but the breakthrough came quickly. At the Beijing Olympics, I placed sixth. I was 23 years old. That's when I first believed I had a chance for a medal, and I started preparing for the World Championships in Berlin. I trained without any concessions. Twice a day at training camps. Bad days didn't matter; I knew I had to give my all. In Berlin, I threw 77.96 meters, won gold, and broke the world record. Robert Kubica is the only Polish Formula 1 driver, one of the most recognizable Poles in the sports world. He became known not only for his exceptional talent behind the wheel but also for his resilience and fortitude, returning to elite sport and once again reaching the pinnacle of racing, competing in Formula 1, despite the serious consequences of a rally accident. His career confirms that talent, combined with hard work, is a combination that enables the achievement of seemingly impossible goals. Simply reaching the racing summit from a country with negligible racing traditions was a significant achievement in itself. Along the way, Kubica paved the way, being the first Pole to achieve impressive successes in karting and junior racing series. In Formula 1, he quickly established himself as a rising star, simultaneously impressing experienced engineers with his maturity, understanding, and feel for the technical nuances so crucial in this sport. In just his third start, he stood on the podium, and in his second full season of racing, he secured pole position, won the Canadian Grand Prix, and led the world championship standings, ultimately finishing the season in fourth place. When asked how he maintains motivation to achieve success, Kubica replies: – I draw motivation from setting realistic goals and pursuing them. You should never stop. As we approach a goal, we set another one. I think it's very important to set realistic goals because that's what motivates us even more strongly. Achieving your goals and accomplishing intangible things is motivating. A promising career was interrupted by a crash while driving a rally car, but after a long and painful rehabilitation, Kubica returned to elite competition. He was the first Pole to win the World Rally Championship in WRC2 and won special stages in the premier WRC category. Although his daily life changed forever and he did not regain full mobility in his right arm, he returned to the Formula 1 tracks and remains a test and reserve driver for the Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN to this day, providing the team with valuable experience. He competes successfully in other racing series – again, as the first Pole in history, he stood on the podium in the DTM series, last year he won the championship title in the European Le Mans Series and came close to winning the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans marathon, and currently competes successfully in the World Endurance Championship. Robert Kubica, speaking about himself, emphasizes that the vast majority of his daily life is connected to sport: – What I do at home every day is related to racing; what I eat is related to racing; how I was raised is related to this sport and driving cars. Regarding how all these things helped me, I think the key moment was leaving for abroad quite early and having to become independent in a foreign country, which has its pros and cons. I think pursuing goals and, to some extent, appreciating what you have played a very significant role in everything I've achieved. I still think I'm lucky where I am, considering what has happened in my life. I've had a lot of luck, and I appreciate it very much. I don't think there's anything better in life than turning your passion into work. The combination of these two things has worked out for me, and that's why I consider myself lucky. Tickets for the event are available at the link – https://pass.impactcee.com/.