Irena Szewińska was a Polish sprinter who was one of the world's foremost track athletes for nearly two decades, in multiple events. She won a total of seven Olympic medals including three golds. She is the only athlete in history, male or female, to have held the world record in the 100 m, the 200 m and the 400 m events. She was voted the Polish Sports Personality of the Year four times. In 2016, she was awarded Poland's highest decoration, the Order of the White Eagle. Irena Szewińska (Poland) set the women's 400 m world record of 49.29 in Montreal, Canada on July 29, 1976. It stood 23 months, until Marita Koch's 49.19 on July 2, 1978. Wiki link