Martyna Wojciechowska

At the age of 19, Wojciechowska began her career as a presenter for the iconic automotive program “Automaniak” for Polish broadcaster TVN. She presented programs including Big Brother, Mission Martyna, and Kids with Class. Since September 2009 she has presented the weekly series Woman at the edge of the world.{{Cite web|url=http://nakrancuswiata.tvn.pl/ekipa,3341,n/ekipa-kobiety-na-krancu-swiata,215557.html|title=Ekipa "Kobiety na krańcu świata"|website=nakrancuswiata.tvn.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}} As a journalist, she worked for magazines including The world of motorbikes (Swiat motocykli), Auto moto, Playboy and Voyage. In February 2007 she became the editor in chief of National Geographic Poland and National Geographic Traveler. She is also a head editor of Polish-English monthly travel magazine Kaleidscope.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The series started in 2008 and is now in its 10th season. It is aired every Sunday at TVN. Each episode focuses on Martyna traveling to a different country where she meets a new woman. Along with introducing the story of the main character, the program reveals the bigger picture of the hosting country and women’s status. The series covers female points of view, but occasionally episodes will also feature male subjects. Every episode brings out social issues from within the host country, among them: sexism, violence, poverty, animal cruelty, human trafficking, work ethics, and human rights. Among many topics, it has featured: the smallest woman in the world Jyoti Amage, a Colombian female wrestler, a student of the Shaolin School, a geisha from Kyoto, women of the Long Necks Tribe in Myanmar, a female sapper, a female pilot from Tanzania and fa’afafine people of Samoa.

In 2015, one of the episodes of Woman at the edge of the world was made into a longer documentary film, directed by Wojciechowska and Marek Kłosowicz. The Ghost People (Ludzie duchy) won a Golden Nymph Award in the category Current Affairs Documentary.{{Cite news|url=http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/swiat/miedzynarodowy-sukces-martyny-wojciechowskiej-film-ludzie-duchy-nagrodzony-na/mh0jrw|title=Międzynarodowy sukces Martyny Wojciechowskiej. Film "Ludzie duchy" nagrodzony na festiwalu w Monte Carlo|date=18 June 2015|newspaper=Onet Wiadomości|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}} It tells the story of albino children in Tanzania who are being hunted for their limbs, which are believed to have magical healing powers. The main character, 17-year-old Kabula, lost her arm, which was cut off by anonymous attackers. Wojciechowska created the special charity ‘Between heaven and earth’ (‘Między niebem, a ziemią’) which collected around 100.000 złoty (USD 26,000) to help Kabula make her dream of becoming a lawyer come true.{{Cite web|url=http://www.miedzyniebemaziemia.pl/kabula-nkalango-masanja-58|title=Fundacja Między Niebem a Ziemią|last=iThemesLab|website=www.miedzyniebemaziemia.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}}

In August 2002 Wojciechowska began her expedition to climb the seven tallest mountains on Earth,{{Cite web|url=http://www.goryonline.com/martyna-wojciechowska-z-korona-ziemi---wiecej-informacji,7532,i.html|title=Martyna Wojciechowska z Koroną Ziemi - więcej informacji - Goryonline.com|website=www.goryonline.com|access-date=8 December 2016}} starting with Mont Blanc. On 22 January 2010, she summited her last mountain, Mount Carstensz, becoming the third Polish woman to achieve that and the second to do it in the Reinhold Messner way. Her expedition was featured in the 55 minute long documentary Korona Ziemi (The crown of Earth) and two books Przesunąć horyzont (Move the Horizon) and Misja Everest (Mission Everest).

In 2004, while filming one of her programmes ‘Mission Martyna’ in Iceland, she had a serious car accident in which her friend and cameraman Rafał Łukaszewicz died and Wojciechowska broke her spine.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fakt.pl/kobieta/plotki/martyna-wojciechowska-o-smierci-rafala-lukaszewicza/r1ex0nw|title=Wojciechowska zamyka bolesne wspomnienie. Śmierć przyjaciela|last=Fakt.pl|date=18 March 2016|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}} She promised herself she would get better and after long therapy in May 2006 she climbed Mount Everest. The events were described in her book Przesunąć horyzont (Move the Horizon).

In 2007, when she was three months pregnant, she summited Mount Elbrus.{{Cite news|url=http://mamadu.pl/114391,moje-dziecko-zdobylo-szczyt-w-wieku-minus-6-miesiecy-wywiad-z-martyna-wojciechowska|title="Moje dziecko zdobyło szczyt w wieku minus 6 miesięcy". Wywiad z Martyną Wojciechowską|newspaper=MamaDu.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}} When her daughter was 8 months old she decided to go to Antarctica to summit Vinson Massif, the highest mountain of the continent. At 4000 meters the expedition was surprised by a strong snowstorm which completely destroyed Wojciechowska’s tent. For dozens of hours, the group was trapped in their tents with the temperature at -30 °C and without food.{{Cite news|url=http://www.tvn24.pl/wiadomosci-z-kraju,3/martyna-wygrala-z-antarktyda,82525.html|title=Martyna wygrała z Antarktydą|newspaper=TVN24.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}} Subsequently, many tabloids criticized Wojciechowska for risking her life and being an irresponsible mother.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pudelek.pl/artykul/14725/wojciechowska_przezyla/38/|title=Wojciechowska PRZEŻYŁA!|last=o.o.|first=http sp. z|date=7 January 2009|newspaper=pudelek.pl|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}}

Mountains summited

• Mont Blanc (28 August 2002)
• Mount Kilimanjaro (26 February 2003)
• Aconcagua (11 February 2006)
• Island Peak (11 April 2006)
• Mount Everest (18 May 2006)
• Denali (11 June 2007)
• Elbrus (29 August 2007)
• Vinson Massif (2 January 2009)
• Mount Carstensz (22 January 2010)
• K2 (31 July 2012)

Wojciechowska has a daughter, Maria (born 17 April 2008). Maria’s father, Polish scuba diver Jerzy Blaszczyk, who was separated from Martyna at the time, died in 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://jastrzabpost.pl/newsy/zmarl-jerzy-blaszczyk-byly-partner-i-ojciec-dziecka-martyny-wojciechowskiej_295898.html|title=Zmarł Jerzy Błaszczyk. Były partner i ojciec dziecka Martyny Wojciechowskiej|date=27 February 2016|newspaper=Jastrząb Post|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}} In 2015, rumors grew around Wojciechowska’s possible health problems. She lost around 20 kg and the media speculated that she had a tropical disease. Wojciechowska wrote an official public statement in which she asked the media to respect her privacy.{{Cite news|url=http://plejada.pl/newsy/martyna-wojciechowska-wydala-oswiadczenie-jest-powaznie-chora/k6ggq3|title=Martyna Wojciechowska wydała oświadczenie. Jest poważnie chora|date=21 November 2015|newspaper=Onet Plejada.pl|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}} She did not name the illness, but denied the rumors claiming that it was malaria.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fakt.pl/kobieta/plotki/martyna-wojciechowska-jest-chora-co-dolega-wojciechowskiej/p39xsnb|title=Na co chora jest Martyna Wojciechowska?|last=Fakt.pl|date=23 March 2016|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}}

In September 2016, she mentioned on her official Facebook page that she had had a serious motorcycle accident{{Cite news|url=http://www.plotek.pl/plotek/7,78649,20411586,martyna-wojciechowska-miala-wypadek-jest-jej-komentarz-mialam.html|title=Martyna Wojciechowska pierwszy raz o wypadku. Pokazuje, jak wygląda po operacji. '21 szwów. Miałam dużo szczęścia'|newspaper=plotek.pl|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}} in which she ended up with a broken collarbone. A week later she was back at the set of ‘Woman at the edge of the world’ which caused her further health complications and she had to have another operation. The new season had to be postponed. In October 2016 Wojciechowska announced that TVN was going to run half of the season, using all the episodes she managed to record before the accident.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zetchilli.pl/Rozrywka/TV-i-Show/Kobieta-na-krancu-swiata-wraca-I-to-wczesniej-niz-sie-spodziewalismy-2395|title="Kobieta na krańcu świata" w telewizji od połowy października|website="Kobieta na krańcu świata" w telewizji od połowy października|access-date=8 December 2016}}

Wojciechowska has been a licensed racing driver since the age of 17. In 2002, she took part in Paris – Dakar Rally and finished it as the first Polish woman and the first woman from Middle-Eastern Europe.{{Cite news|url=http://www.plotek.pl/plotek/56,79592,9814976,rajd-paryz-dakar,,5.html|title=Rajd Paryż-Dakar|newspaper=plotekpl|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}}

In 2018, Mattel announced the creation of a Shero Barbie doll with Wojciechowska's image for her contributions to "breaking stereotypes and inspiring women and girls around the world" to pursue their dreams. She is the third Polish woman to have one alongside Anita Włodarczyk and Iwona Blecharczyk.{{Cite web |url=https://kobieta.onet.pl/wiadomosci/martyna-wojciechowska-wyrozniona-tytulem-barbie-shero/cj55kne |language=pl |title=Martyna Wojciechowska wyróżniona tytułem Barbie Shero |website=kobieta.onet.pl |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=15 April 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Hammer-throwing champ joins distinguished list of ‘inspirational women’ after being turned into Shero Barbie doll |url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/hammer-throwing-champ-joins-distinguished-list-of-inspirational-women-after-being-turned-into-shero-barbie-doll-20388 |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=www.thefirstnews.com |language=en}}

• 2009: Róże Gali Plebiscyt (The Beautiful Web-Roses (Gala Magazine) [http://www.gala.pl/aktualnosci/roze-gali-2009/ Gala.pl] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216054840/http://www.gala.pl/aktualnosci/roze-gali-2009/ |date=16 February 2010 }}
• 2010: Woman of the Year 2009 Award from the magazine Twój Styl (Your Style){{Cite news|url=http://plejada.pl/newsy/martyna-wojciechowska-kobieta-roku-2009/8mq7md|title=Martyna Wojciechowska "Kobietą Roku 2009"!|date=10 March 2010|newspaper=Onet Plejada.pl|language=pl-PL|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2010: MediaTory – University Students' Journalism Awards in the AkumulaTOR category{{Cite news|url=http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/wreczono-studenckie-nagrody-mediatory-2010-triumf-tvn|title=Wręczono studenckie nagrody MediaTory 2010 - triumf TVN|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2011: Nagroda Bursztynowego Motyla im. Arkadego Fiedlera for her book Kobieta na krańcu świata 2
• 2011: Personality of the Year Media 2011: Złota Kropa Onetu in the Greatest Female Personality of Pop Culture category{{Cite web|url=http://www.itaka.pl/strony/3667.php|title=Osobowości i Sukcesy Roku 2011 {{!}} ITAKA|last=Itaka|first=Biuro Podróży|website=www.itaka.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2013: Bestseller Empiku in the Multibrand Concept category for her book series "Zwierzaki świata"{{Cite web|url=http://www.empik.com/bestsellery-empiku-2013-rozdane-aktualnosci-empikultura,91580,a|title=Bestsellery Empiku 2013 rozdane! - Aktualności - empik.com|website=www.empik.com|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2014: National Geographic Internetional Media Conference 2014, Best Book Project Award for her book series Dzieciaki świata and Zwierzaki świata{{Cite web|url=http://www.national-geographic.pl/aktualnosci/national-geographic-polska-obsypany-nagrodami|title=National Geographic Polska obsypany nagrodami!|last=NG|first=Redakcja|website=www.national-geographic.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2015: Wiktor Award 2014 in the Exceptional Personality of the Year category{{Cite web|url=http://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/Wiadomosci/Kraj/Wiktory-2015-Nagrody-zostaly-wreczone-00003122|title=Wiktory 2015: Nagrody zostały wręczone|last=Adamska|first=Karolina|website=Wiktory 2015: Nagrody zostały wręczone - Wiadomości|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2015: Złota Nimfa Award at the Monte Carlo Film Festival for her documentary Ludzie Duchy (Ghost People){{Cite web|url=http://nakrancuswiata.tvn.pl/aktualnosci,2172,n/miedzynarodowy-sukces-martyny-wojciechowskiej,171897.html|title=Międzynarodowy sukces Martyny Wojciechowskiej!|website=nakrancuswiata.tvn.pl|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• 2015: ReformaTOR Award in the MediaTory Plebiscite for her documentary Ludzie Duchy (Ghost People){{Cite news|url=http://www.proto.pl/aktualnosci/mediatory-2015-wsrod-nagrodzonych-martyna-wojciechowska-dorota-wellman-i-adam-michnik|title=MediaTORy 2015 – wśród nagrodzonych Martyna Wojciechowska, Dorota Wellman i Adam Michnik|date=30 November 2015|access-date=8 December 2016}}

• Przesunąć horyzont (Move the Horizon) ({{ISBN|83-7515-010-X}})
• Misja Everest (Mission Everest) ({{ISBN|83-7515-009-6}})
• Etiopia. Ale czat! (Ethiopia. But the Chat!) ({{ISBN|978-83-7596-064-8}})
• Kobieta na krańcu świata (Woman at the Edge of the World) ({{ISBN|978-83-7596-079-2}})
• Kobieta na krańcu świata 2 (Woman at the Edge of the World 2) ({{ISBN|978-83-7596-110-2}})
• Kobieta na krańcu świata 3 (Woman at the Edge of the World 3) {{ISBN|978-83-7596-209-3}})
• Zapiski (pod)różne (Travel journals) ({{ISBN|978-83-7596-182-9}})
• Automaniaczka. Od rometa do Rajdu Dakar (Automaniac) ({{ISBN|978-83-7778-101-2}})
• Dzieciaki Świata (Children of the World), 2013 ({{ISBN|978-83-7596-507-0}})
• Zwierzaki Świata (Animals of the World) ({{ISBN|978-83-7596508-7}})

• 2002: Jak to się robi z dziewczynami (How To Do It With Girls): as journalist
• 2005: Anioł Stróż (Guardian Angel) (TV series): as teacher
• 2006: Auta (Cars) (voice role): as reporter Turbicka

{{Reflist}}

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Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Warsaw

Category:Writers from Warsaw

Category:Polish women writers

Category:Polish mountain climbers

Category:Polish summiters of Mount Everest

Category:Polish female climbers