History

The Decoration for Meritorious Sport Champions was established by the Polish People's Republic in 1950 and was awarded until the collapse of the communist regime in 1989. It was awarded to Polish athletes for achievements in sport on the national or international stage. Recipients were required to have won multiple Olympic, world championship or European championship medals, or later, to be the recipient of the Decoration for Sport Champions accompanied by additional merits.

There are four different versions of the Gold Decoration that differ in reverse inscription. The first version features a reverse inscription that can be translated to "Central Committee for Physical Culture," the second version features a reverse inscription that can be translated to "Central Committee for Physical Culture and Tourism," the third version features a reverse inscription that can be translated to "Central Committee for Physical Culture and Sport," and the fourth version features a reverse inscription that can be translated to "Committee for Youth and Physical Culture." All four versions feature an obverse inscription that can be translated to "Meritorious Sport Champion."