Malysz's testimonial in the Tatra Mountains resort of Zakopane in southern Poland had drawn the big names of his sport, and 60,000 fans from across the nation including Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and first lady Anna Komorowska.
“This is a big party, but it's also a farewell. Thanks for being here for me for the last time,” Malysz told the huge crowd at a ceremony which was also broadcast live on Polish television, despite the fact the jumps were called off.
Malysz, who has retired aged 33, is considered one of ski jumping's all-time greats and enjoys a huge following among Poles that spreads beyond diehard fans of winter sports.
Over a 16-year career, he has notched up a total of 92 podium finishes, 39 of them victories.
His haul includes four World Championship titles, plus four World Cup titles, three of them in a row in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
He also took silver and bronze at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 — when a record 13.8 million Poles, or almost one in three of the population, watched his performance on television — and double silver in Vancouver in 2010.
In the final World Cup meet of this season, last weekend in Planica in Slovenia, Malysz capped his career with third place. (© AFP )