Introduction

Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL) Age: 27

Despite being relatively young, Miroslaw (née Rudzinska) is something of a veteran competitor - she first competed in a Speed World Cup in 2010. An early World Cup win in Chamonix in 2012 was followed by another the next year in Chongqing and it appeared that a glittering career beckoned. 

Miroslaw’s glittering career eventually arrived, but not at the time and in the manner that had been expected - podiums came in the three seasons following the Chongqing win, but a victory proved elusive and she all but retired in 2017. She decided to come back in 2018 but focus just on the biggest competitions; an unusual plan but clearly an effective one - she won the only World Cup she entered in 2018, was 1st and 2nd in the two she entered in 2019 and won back to back World Championships in those two years as well. That’s a success rate that even Janja would be proud of.

Qualification route

Hachioji World Championships (4^th place)

Miroslaw’s win in the Hachioji Speed World Championships netted her a place in the Combined competition. Once there she beat her only serious rival (Anouck Jaubert) to 1st place in the Speed element of the event, booked her slot in the final and punched her Olympic ticket.

Trivia

Miroslaw’s sister Malgorzata Rudzinska is also a strong climber - she picked up two top-10 finishes in Youth World Championships and has bouldered 8A+.

UKC prediction

With her ability to peak at the key moments we’re backing Miroslaw to come first in the Speed qualifying, thereby making the final. In the final she will be a strong favourite to win the Speed element but that’s unlikely to be enough to make it onto the podium. A mid-final finish looks the most likely outcome.