Sam Blaskowski had already found a way to make the track world look twice. Now, the American sprinter is preparing for a different kind of change… one that could see him line up under the Polish flag at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

His ambitions go beyond simply wearing a different jersey, with a connection to his grandparents. With personal bests of 9.89 in the 100m and 19.93 in the 200m, Blaskowski already sees himself contributing to Poland’s sprinting future, particularly its 4x100m relay

The 23-year-old made headlines this season after blazing to a 9.89-second 100m, matching Noah Lyles’ bronze-medal time from the 2025 World Championships and becoming the fastest American over the distance in 2026 at that point.

But while the number on the clock grabbed attention, Blaskowski has another number on his mind: 1905.

Get the Essentially Athletics Newsletter. Your speed-read of the biggest track and field news, insights, and perspectives — from college to Team USA.

That was the year his great-grandparents, Franciszek and Julian Błaszkowski, left Poland for the United States. Now, their journey is helping shape the next chapter of his own.

Blaskowski has started the process of establishing Polish citizenship and has received backing from the Polish Athletics Association as he works toward changing his sporting allegiance.

Growing up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Blaskowski tried basketball, baseball, football and soccer before track eventually became his home. When he was cut from the basketball team, he joined the track squad instead. Four consecutive team titles later, the decision looked rather fortunate.

By his senior year, he had collected state titles in the 100m, 200m, and long jump. Yet college recruitment did not exactly come flooding in. Division I programs showed little interest, leaving the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse – a Division III school and the alma mater of his parents, as his opportunity.

Blaskowski turned that opportunity into a trophy cabinet few Division III athletes could match. He eventually collected 11 individual NCAA Division III titles across the 60m, 100m, and 200m while repeatedly rewriting the division’s sprint records.

Then came the 2024 Olympic Trials in Eugene. He did not make the U.S. Olympic team, but the experience changed his perception of where he belonged.

“I took away so much from this meet; it was both a learning experience and a motivator. Realizing I was one of the youngest athletes on the field showed me I have so much room for growth in the future,” Blaskowski said.

Wanting access to elite sprint training, he worked at a regional airport near home and saved enough money to move to Florida. There, he joined Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics group alongside Olympic medalists such as Sha’Carri Richardson and Kenny Bednarek.

On May 30, Blaskowski clocked 9.89 seconds, suddenly placing himself among the fastest sprinters on the planet. The performance also sparked another label for the time being: the fastest white man in history after surpassing Christophe Lemaitre’s 9.92.

But Blaskowski would rather talk about something else: being competitive with the world’s best, regardless of the historical comparison. Now, his Polish roots are giving that ambition another direction.

Three other promising Americans changed their nationality last month

Blaskowski’s decision comes amid a broader wave of young American athletes choosing to represent countries connected to their heritage.

In July, USA U20 champion Yevhen Zhmailo confirmed his intention to represent Ukraine, the country where he was born before moving to the U.S. after Russia’s invasion. Triple jump became his breakthrough event, eventually bringing him national success and state records.

Maria Portela, meanwhile, is moving toward representing Spain. The 2026 USA U20 200m bronze medalist had already caught Spanish officials’ attention after running 11.38 in the 100m, faster than the previous Spanish junior best, although the mark was not officially recognized because she did not yet hold a Spanish athletics license.

Amir Thompson also chose another path, declaring for Barbados. The Arizona State standout is the son of Olympic bronze medallist Obadele Thompson and hopes to follow his father onto the Olympic stage.

“Every rep and every race this season at ASU is building toward nationals and the Olympics,” Thompson said. “It would mean so much to follow in my dad’s footsteps and represent Barbados on the biggest stage in track and field.”

For Blaskowski, however, this isn’t simply about finding another route to the Olympics. It is also about returning to a family story that began more than a century ago.

If everything falls into place, the grandson of Polish immigrants could soon be sprinting toward Los Angeles glory. Not as an American chasing a place on the podium, but as a Polish athlete carrying his family’s history with him.