Wlodarczyk is Chapman University’s cross country coach for the men’s and women’s teams, as well as the women’s track coach. She also happens to be a former Olympian and multiple medal winner.

“It is just part of my life to be in shape. I believe I made a good choice to be physically active, I feel great mentally and physically,” Wlodarczyk said.

Still training for competitions, she traveled to Poland last July to participate in the European Veterans Athletics Championships, competing against other athletes 51-60 years old. This was the first time she competed in her home country since she was an Olympian in the 1980s.

“Getting older is not easy to accept, and the preparations for the nationals or world championships take a lot of effort,” Wlodarczyk said.

Wlodarczyk returned to the United States with two gold medals, one in long jump and one in triple jump, a silver medal in the short hurdles, and set a European record for her age group at 10.18 m in the triple jump.

Her champion mentality began in Poland at an early age when her mother enrolled her in a local sports club to practice corrective swimming, aimed to help with her posture. After a series of physical tests, it was determined that she was a natural jumper and had the potential to be great at the long jump. At age 10, she took up track and field, and hasn’t been able to stop since then.