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London 2012: Introducing... Andrzej Jezierski

Here’s the second-most decorated athlete Ireland will send to the games.

Event: C1, 200m canoe sprint.

Who is he? He is the adopted son of  Ballincollig, but (as you may have guessed by the spelling of his name) Andrzej Jezierski is a native of Poland.

He is a double World Champion and has also claimed silver and two bronze finishes in C4 1000m and 500m.

That’s pedigree folks.

Road to London: In 2005, fresh from his second gold at world level  Jezierski decided to call time on his successful career. The grant he was receiving for competing in Poland was minuscule (and reducing), so he joined many thousands of his countrymen in search of work in Ireland.

He gave up competitive canoeing, drove a truck and worked where he could before deciding to make a comeback and appearing on the IOC’s radar.

In May, Jezierski battled through torrid conditions to qualify via the European Championships in familiar surroundings in Poznan.

What he says about himself: Regarding his decision to declare for Ireland, he told: Wprost: “When I wanted to return to the (Polish) team, I got the impression that I was not wanted.

“I was also informed by a certain person from the compound, whose name I do not want to mention, that even if I was the strongest in Poland over 200 metres, I still could not go to the games”

Happy to have you aboard, Andrzej.

Medal chances: It is the best part of a decade since Jezierski was at his medal-winning peak. However, he is a fierce competitor and has the winning mentality so often deemed to be lacking in an Irish athlete.

Jimmy loves his history and it would be an amazing comeback if he got close.

If you meet him in a bar, ask him...’Would you like an award-winning pint of Zywiec? ‘

On the Twitter: Eh, not really… but follow him anyway. Ya never know.

If he was a YouTube video, he ‘d be... Muhammad Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks after a short retirement, but came back in 1978 to become heavyweight champ for the third and final time.

YouTube credit: 4mirkhan

Read more of TheScore’s “London 2012: Introducing” series here >

Because he’s retiring, here are 16 photos (and 1 video) of Ledley King defending like a boss

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