Week 8 [11.05 - 17.05] Jerzy Górski - a champion with many weaknesses, which became his greatest strength
Jerzy Górski was born on December 4, 1954 in Legnica. He is a Polish triathlete, world champion in double Ironman from September 3, 1990. He grew up at the turn of the 1960s and '70s. It was sad, gloomy, difficult years. As the master says, he used drugs out of stupidity but also out of boredom. Before drugs appeared in his life, cigarettes were first. He tried the first one when he was 12 years old, then smoked up to 100 a day. He was intoxicated with Tri fluid, glue, morphine. When he was on drug craving, he stole from pharmacies. Later, he began to produce the so-called compote, Polish heroin created from poppy straw.
Jurek had a break in drugging in prison and also in psychiatrists. To break free, he made "swallowings" - he tied sharp objects with a thread, which he later drained down the esophagus. Later he went to the doctors to ask for release to the hospital. He reached the peak of madness when he injected melted chocolate into his lungs. Even degenerated friends from the cell, who had already seen everything, thought that this time Jurek would not survive. One night he escaped from the hospital - he wanted to run up to 30 kilometers in the snow to get drugs. He would probably freeze to death. He turned. He realized then that he would not last long. Increasingly, one of his colleagues died, he did not want to repeat their fate.
The light in the tunnel appeared when on the prison he heard on a broadcast on Polish Radio about Monar (centers for addicts). The methods of Monar's founder - Mr. Kotański – were for Jurek like the last chance in escaping certain death. Work, exercises, interaction, therapy. These were better chances to get out of the addiction than looking at the ceiling of a psychiatric hospital.
In 1984, he joined MONAR, where the severity was even greater than in prison. Everyone in the center understood that. We can say that everyone danced there with death, and the wrong steps could quickly finish 2 meters underground. The rules are as follows: for half a year zero sex, zero pipes and alcohol for 2 years, all life - zero heroin.
Monar led people out of addiction mainly by work. Residents of the centers built their own huts, furniture, gymnastic facilities and cooked for themselves. In Monar, there is a rule that you have to run twice a day at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Most importantly is that, it was on the Monar cross-country track that the story of Jerzy Górski, a drug addict, ended, and the career of Jerzy Górski an athlete began.
As the master says - "When I ran 1700 meters for the first time, I got a bleeding. My nose was bleeding so that all my clothes were flooded and I vomited, but it was getting better every day, I was getting stronger. " Jurek ran every day and imposed a lethal pace.
Next it went smoothly. Endorphins secreted during running replaced opiates injected into the arteries. Jurek got crazy about sport. One day he got on a bicycle and traveled around all Monar's outlets in Poland, collecting petitions under the prohibition of sowing poppies in Poland. When he got bored of it he decided to take part in some sporting events.
The first triathlon was penultimate, but training, concentration and perseverance in achieving the set goal under the guidance of mentor and champion Antoni Niemczyk led to the fact that in 1990 he took part in the qualifications in the Western States Endurance Run, which he completed in 28 hours , 5 minutes and 22 seconds, taking 142 place. In the same year he took part in the Double Iron Triathlon in Huntsville, where he finished the race in 1st place. Distance of 7.6 km swimming, 360 km cycling and 84 km covered in 24 hours, 47 minutes and 46 seconds.
The fate of Jerzy Górski is described in the book by Łukasz Grass - "The Best. When weakness becomes strength" and shown in the movie "The Best".
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| Poppy straw for the production of "Polish heroin". |
Jurek had a break in drugging in prison and also in psychiatrists. To break free, he made "swallowings" - he tied sharp objects with a thread, which he later drained down the esophagus. Later he went to the doctors to ask for release to the hospital. He reached the peak of madness when he injected melted chocolate into his lungs. Even degenerated friends from the cell, who had already seen everything, thought that this time Jurek would not survive. One night he escaped from the hospital - he wanted to run up to 30 kilometers in the snow to get drugs. He would probably freeze to death. He turned. He realized then that he would not last long. Increasingly, one of his colleagues died, he did not want to repeat their fate.
The light in the tunnel appeared when on the prison he heard on a broadcast on Polish Radio about Monar (centers for addicts). The methods of Monar's founder - Mr. Kotański – were for Jurek like the last chance in escaping certain death. Work, exercises, interaction, therapy. These were better chances to get out of the addiction than looking at the ceiling of a psychiatric hospital.
In 1984, he joined MONAR, where the severity was even greater than in prison. Everyone in the center understood that. We can say that everyone danced there with death, and the wrong steps could quickly finish 2 meters underground. The rules are as follows: for half a year zero sex, zero pipes and alcohol for 2 years, all life - zero heroin.
Monar led people out of addiction mainly by work. Residents of the centers built their own huts, furniture, gymnastic facilities and cooked for themselves. In Monar, there is a rule that you have to run twice a day at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Most importantly is that, it was on the Monar cross-country track that the story of Jerzy Górski, a drug addict, ended, and the career of Jerzy Górski an athlete began.
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| Jerzy Górski (second from right) during therapy in Monar. Wroclaw 1985. |
As the master says - "When I ran 1700 meters for the first time, I got a bleeding. My nose was bleeding so that all my clothes were flooded and I vomited, but it was getting better every day, I was getting stronger. " Jurek ran every day and imposed a lethal pace.
Next it went smoothly. Endorphins secreted during running replaced opiates injected into the arteries. Jurek got crazy about sport. One day he got on a bicycle and traveled around all Monar's outlets in Poland, collecting petitions under the prohibition of sowing poppies in Poland. When he got bored of it he decided to take part in some sporting events.
The first triathlon was penultimate, but training, concentration and perseverance in achieving the set goal under the guidance of mentor and champion Antoni Niemczyk led to the fact that in 1990 he took part in the qualifications in the Western States Endurance Run, which he completed in 28 hours , 5 minutes and 22 seconds, taking 142 place. In the same year he took part in the Double Iron Triathlon in Huntsville, where he finished the race in 1st place. Distance of 7.6 km swimming, 360 km cycling and 84 km covered in 24 hours, 47 minutes and 46 seconds.
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| Jerzy Górski (in the middle) with his team after the Double Ironman competition. |
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| Jerzy Górski at Pol’and’Rock Festival in 2018. source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncTIskOGvM0&t=1724s |
The fate of Jerzy Górski is described in the book by Łukasz Grass - "The Best. When weakness becomes strength" and shown in the movie "The Best".
1. What is your opinion about drugs?
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Comments
I do not take drugs, I do not recommend it to anyone, but if someone wants to try, they should do it. Moderation and reason are important. I agree with the thesis that boredom is the cause of many addictions. I would add that boredom is also a cause of many diseases. Once everyone had a job and there was no time for mental illness. People responsible for education would prefer to give us more classes and less free time, although this is not a solution. The solution is good upbringing, interpersonal relationships and doing what you want, not what someone else wants. Everyone must think for themselves !!
You can't give up, reaching the bottom is sometimes necessary, because as you know from the bottom you can bounce and break above our previous maximum. Just believe it and fight for yours.
I recently try to don't use them. All of them. Drinking non alco beers, not smoking even shisha etc. as it really decrease your level of serotonin. As we can see in case of Jerzy, quitting it is a good life time decision.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Maybe not addiction but unhealthy things. If you don't have much to do you're trying to kill your time in ways that don't benefit you. Of course It matters what's importing for us and what we describe as time killers and rather self-development stuff.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Yes, definitely! Always remember that even in really bad situation there is always a solution. Jerzy is a great case which prove this thesis. All of us has a down fall moments in our life but still we are really lucky to have something to eat, place to sleep and have a family. It's a point of view and everything that stops us is in our head :)
2. Of course, sometimes there is a moment in life when you think that nothing is waiting for you anymore. That the best years are behind you, you can not set goals - then you are looking for new experiences and you can reach for drugs.
3. I agree with this statement. I would even say more - even when you reach the top, you must constantly go ahead and fight so that your life never gets bored.
I have mixed feelings. Light drugs like alcohol or marijuana should be legal. Another problem is addiction. Every addiction makes a man a slave. An addiction is a disease that impedes mental, physical and social functioning. An addicted person is usually unaware of his or her addiction, which causes a lot of harm. I think this is a problem. It is very easy to become addicted to hard drugs both physically and mentally. It is very hard to find the golden mean. Unfortunately it is not possible to ban all drugs because you can find them everywhere. Not even with tea.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
According to researchers, people experiencing chronic boredom are susceptible to drug addiction. . American researchers have shown that more than half of teenagers (52%) are at risk of addiction if they are under stress, frequent boredom or excess money. Also in my opinion boredom has an obvious influence on whether we take drugs. People sometimes take drugs to kill boredom. Unfortunately, most drugs damage the dopamine energy system. The dysfunction of the dopaminergic system is responsible for not experiencing pleasant emotions and feelings. Only re-delivery of the drug stimulates the dopamine system.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
I think anyone should have a chance to get out of an addiction. I have lived with a person who is addicted to alcohol and I know that after some time the person who helps loses all his strength. An addicted person should be treated in a professional centre. And the most important thing is that she wants to get out of her addiction.
2. I believe that boredom, lack of new activities, etc. causes addiction to alcohol or drugs, to a greater or lesser degree. But in the end it all depends on the human psyche, how long he can live like this and how much time it will take before he starts using drugs.
3. I believe that it is always and everywhere to fight for a good life. The problem lies with people and their motivation.
In my opinion everything should be available but community should be educated about how this works - for example you have to finish some lesson if you want buy this in shop. I think about everything like cigaretes, alcohol, marijuana etc. Some of this can have positive effects and some of them not - for example cigaretes. This could save people from falling in addictions.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Of course it can be a reason. There is a lot of possibilities and it is not related only with drugs. It can be gambling, playing video games etc and the reasons can be bad life situation, friends which use some drugs or just boredom just like you mentioned.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Obviously i agree with this sentence. When you have bad situation it is not easy but you have to overpower this mindset. It also depends to person character.
Drugs are bad. They have a very negative impact on the cognitive functions and they are damaging dopamine distributions.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Yes. Drugs are interesting for everyone and it's much harder to find something else interesting on your own. But that's also a parent false, they should teach some ways with finding hobbies, and they are often failing at that.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Yes. There are many inspiring stories like that which can be helpful with overcoming addictions. And each one has a similar point - it was the best decision to not give up. I never heard about a story that ends with "I should sticks to drugs instead".
2. Yes, I do and I have seen this on myself a few months ago that for example I was smoking out of boredom while waiting for someone.
3. I think that we all should agree with this opinion, there’s always some opportunity no matter how bad is the situation, we just need to find some strength inside of us to work hard for better times and to accept help from others
and should fight it even more. What is your question if boredom can be the cause of addiction, hmm, I don't think it has the biggest impact
it makes sense. People who have no purpose fall into such boredom and often take drugs because they do not know what to do.
As for the final question. I think we should fight for our lives and never give up
2. Yes of course. If people have any activity they don’t think how to fill their free time.
3. Yes, I am a fun of a theory that we should always try not to give up, and fight one, last time 😉
2. I don't think that "boredom" is to blame. You can also do many great things "out of boredom". It all depends on a person and their intentions.
3. Yes, for sure. People make mistakes but it is important to learn from them and do all you can to get out of the toxic situation that you find yourself in. It's not easy but there is always a solution.
Not the thing you should definitely try. But perhaps we should legilize them and this will cause less problems than our nowadays war with them. You know, the control is better.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
I think causes are different, and boredom can be only one in the list and not the main. Studyings of different animals show that it depends more on our family and friends.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
If you want to live, you should always fight despite anything. This is the way. And may the force be with you.
It's like every other thing in our World. They can be dangours for someone and can make the other happy or more productive. I don't have judgement on this subject.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
It can deffinitly ruin our health if we use it too much - like any other thing.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Of course, it's so human to do so
Drugs are nothing good. Maybe except for medicinal marijuana. They kill. They destroy the body. There are no soft and hard drugs, they are just drugs. That's all.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Yes, everyone is looking for entertainment during boredom. Just look what happens to people during a pandemic. It is difficult to find entertainment not only for yourself but also for your children.
Boredom can bite, so people get bored with strange things.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
I’ve never tried anything stronger than some pot. I am not a huge fan of it, but once in a blue moon I don’t mind smoking some. It doesn’t cause any damage in that amounts to me, I don’t get have any side effects but on the other hand I feel relaxed. When it comes to stronger drugs, I have never tried anything and probably won’t so I’d say that I am against it.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Yes, it might to some extent. I can see that when I am bored I tend to smoke more cigarettes than when I have a lot on my plate. So, if this applies to cigarettes, then it probably applies to stronger substances that drugs contain.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life? Yes, I think so, especially when everyone else lost their faith in you, you are the only person that might help you rising again.
2. In my opinion it can be. When you are bored you try out new things, and if that sticks to you, and you have nothing else to do, you can become addicted.
3. Yes, i do. When you reach the bottom things can't get any worse, so there is no harm in trying to fight for a better life.
The problem with drugs is that they are highly addictive. If people would be able to get high in a controled environment woyhout getting addicted to it wouldn't be that much of a problem. I can't tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do but I am against hard drugs. Weed or alcohol (which is considered a drug by some societies) are less harmful but only if taken in small amounts.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Well, I have never thought about that this way but there might be something to it. People tend to look for an entertainment in different places when bored. I think that addiction very often is caused be mental problems or traumatic events which made people look for an escape.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Of course. There is not such thing as bottom to be honest. If you think that there is nothing worse that could happen - you are wrong. There is always something that can hit you even harder. There is never to late to fight for a better life. The lower you are the bigger the difference will be when you will finally get there.
I think these are bad things. I do not use it and do not advise others. This is very detrimental to the whole body. This affects not only the physical component but also the psychoemotional background of the person. Sometimes, nevertheless, there is a need for the use of drugs for medical purposes, but this is by no means criticized.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Most likely yes, but besides boredom, I think that there is another factor why people start using drugs. I mean the impact of other people who play a negative role in this matter. It’s rare when people come up with the idea to think about drugs, most likely it’s someone’s influence from the environment or acquaintance with not very good people. I can be mistaken over.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Yes, moreover, if this succeeds, then as a rule there are more guarantees that this success will be fixed for a longer time. I think in order to be reborn again, you need to go through self-destruction or something like that. A lot of such examples actually.
I have never tried drugs, but I know people who did. I have nothing against drugs, because it is not my interest if somebody is doing it or not. I cant tell anyone to not to do that. I am just not interested in it.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Yes, if people are bored then stupid ideas comes to mind. It is dangerous to don’t have a goal in life. I know some people who are just bored in my opinion and they stared to do drugs, it is really bad to be addicted to them.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Yes, definitely I support people like you described. It is so interested to read about that and what is more it is beautiful that we can change anything only if we want to.
I think that light drugs should be allowed in our country. In my opinion they are not more dangerous than alcohol or cigarretes and government can benefit from taxes being put on them. It is very harmful that people who possess some portion of lets say marihuana can go to prison.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
For sure. Probably boredom is one of the biggest factor. Second could be lack of adrenaline and I think that drugs can make you feel so extatic that you get the adrenaline rush, that is why they are so addictive.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Yes for sure. I believe that many people that were amazing sportsman or sportswoman were made that way. Many footballers were living in extreme poverty f.e. in brazilian favelas, yet they became very succesfull. Probably their harsh childhood made them brave enough to follow their dreams.
I believe that everyone is responsible for themselves and to a willing person, injury is not done(Volenti non fit injuria).
Previous speaker wrote - light drugs - yes, no to heavy ones, listing marijuana and alcohol as light drugs. Alcohol is not a light drug. Alcohol is one of the worst and heaviest drugs that exist with the greatest harm to the user and society. People cannot reasonably assess its harmfulness.
https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,114871,19137669,to-badanie-pokazuje-jak-nasze-wyobrazenie-o-szkodliwosci-uzywek.html
https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/wbi/alkohol-jest-bardziej-szkodliwy-niz-narkotyki/sykep5k
It is unfortunate that we have a country of drunks and there is social consent for it.
Drunks are literally everywhere, and they drink more and more:
https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103085,24498706,pijemy-coraz-wiecej-i-chetnie-z-malpek-w-zeszlym-roku-pobilismy.html
People should first of all be educated and drunks should be mocked and stigmatized. We should take their children away if there is no sober guardian around them. Also Personally, I think that people under the influence of alcohol should be excluded from the National Health Insurance. Drunks are admitted to SORs for our money, but adults should not be prohibited from taking what they want.
Depenalization of real light drugs like marijuana has also led to the rise of legal highs (dopalacze) and the deaths of many people. The war on drugs is a lost case, which cost a lot of money, health and life to many people without any positive effects:
https://www.newsweek.pl/swiat/przegrana-wojna-z-narkotykami/plr6m9j
In addition, in new research on cannabinoids or psilocybin, which have been blocked for years, they indicate a very important role of these substances in medicine.
Currently, e.g. in Poland, there is also a hunt for medical marijuana patients - pharmacies still treat them like junkies, and the government sees no problem in the absence of drug supplies (often pain-relieving in the terminal stage). It's a shame!
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
I don't think so, more and more research shows that genes and the brain are mainly responsible for addiction. Someone is born addicted but does not know yet to what. Everything depends on what falls into his hands.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
I believe that you should never give up and always fight for a better tomorrow.
2. I think yes but that's not the main reason. I think people get addicted to drugs because of various problems or a worse time in their lives and lack of support
3. Yes, but I also think that you should have good contacts with friends and family and talk to them because in this case it is much harder on your own and loved one will help you with it. Possibly, you shouldnt be afraid to go to psychologist
2. It can be. Bored people can lose boredom with addictive substances which is easy or become an addict to a useful activities like sport, reading, learning and it is a harder way.
3. Yes, as it can always get worst it can also get better. So you can’t give up.
I am somewhat indifferent about them. Personally, I would never even think of trying them, but a lot of my friend did, and they said it makes parties much more fun. For sure drugs are bad when the children have access to it, as they tend to be very irresponsible about their usage.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
Yes, when people are bored they tend to find new things that can keep their mind busy, and when they find it they don't wanna lose it anymore. That's when addiction is born.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Of course, why would anyone want to stay at the bottom? You can only go up from there, so no point in giving up.
I think that drug use shouldn't be penalized, I think that government should try to educate people and not treat them like criminals. Addiction is a disease and we shouldn't make it harder for people to get out of it.
2. Do you think that boredom can be the cause of various types of addiction?
I'm sure it can and often is a cause of doing drugs. Some people especially young try drugs just to feel something and get some excitement in their lives. I think that drugs are a way to escape their lives in some way, using drugs make them feel good and don't remember about their everyday problems.
3. Do you share the opinion that despite reaching the bottom you should not give up and fight for a better life?
Yes, I think that You should never give up. From the very bottom, you can only go up, that's why You should never give up and fight for Yourself.