Eliza Rucka-Michałek
Polish cross-country skier (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eliza Rucka-Michałek (born 20 December 2000) is a Polish cross-country skier, representing the club MKS Istebna.[1] She represented Poland at the 2026 Winter Olympics.[2]
Career
Rucka-Michałek made her first appearance in international competition on 12 December 2015 at the Slavic Cup event in Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia, where she finished 26th in the freestyle sprint.[3]
At the Polish National Championships in 2018, she won the gold medal in the mixed team sprint (classical style) and a bronze medal in the women's team sprint (freestyle).[4]
She made her FIS Cross-Country World Cup debut on 26 January 2020 in Oberstdorf, competing in the classical sprint. She did not finish the qualification round after fainting during the competition.[5]
In June 2021, due to recurring fainting episodes during competitions, she was not granted permission by the Polish Ski Association to continue training and subsequently retired from professional sport.[6]
In 2025, Rucka-Michałek resumed her career, and after winning the Polish national championship title, she was reappointed to the national team.[7] On 30 November 2025, she scored her first World Cup points by finishing 33rd in the 10 km freestyle event.[8] On 31 December 2025, she placed sixth in the 5 km freestyle race during the 2025–26 Tour de Ski, achieving the best result by a Polish cross-country skier since the retirement of Justyna Kowalczyk-Tekieli.[9][10]
Rucka-Michałek competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics.[2] She placed eighth in the 50 km classical event, the best Olympic result for Polish cross-country skier since 2014.[11]
Personal life
Following the recurring fainting episodes during competitions, Rucka-Michałek was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, a condition involving a drop in blood pressure and a slowing of the heart rate.[12]
Rucka-Michałek is married to her cross-country skiing trainer, with whom she has two children.[13]
