Erwina Ryś-Ferens

Erwina Lilia Ryś-Ferens (née Ryś, 19 January 1955) is a retired Polish speed skater. She competed in four consecutive Winter Olympics from 1976 to 1988 in all distances from 500 m to 3000 m. She reached fifth place on three occasions: in 1980 (3000 m), in 1984 (1500 m) and in 1988 (3000 m).

She won a silver and a bronze medal at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships in 1974 and 1975, respectively. As a senior skater, she won bronze medals in the World Sprint Championships in 1978 and 1985.

Ryś-Ferens graduated from the local high school in her native Elblag (1974) and then from the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw (1979). After retirement she worked as a speed skating coach.

Personal bests:

• 500 m – 40.86 (1985)
• 1000 m – 1:21.44 (1988)
• 1500 m – 2:04.68 (1988)
• 3000 m – 4:22.59 (1988)
• 5000 m – 7:46.60 (1988)

Life in politics

Ryś-Ferens is an experienced politician. She unsuccessfully ran for the national and European Parliament in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009, representing various parties, including the National Party of Retirees and Pensioners, Democratic Left Alliance – Labor Union, Law and Justice and Polish People's Party (PPP). She had success in the Polish local elections, 2010 and 2011 representing PPP.