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Wieslaw GawlowskiPolish volleyball player
Date of Birth: 19.05.1950
Country:  Poland |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Wiesław Gawłowski was born on May 19, 1950, in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland. His passion for volleyball began at the local club, Lechia. In 1969, he joined the Warsaw Academy of Physical Culture, where he played for the Academy's team until 1973. During his studies, he wrote his master's thesis on the analysis of the Polish national team's performance at the 1970 World Championships.
National Success
After graduating from the Academy, Gawłowski joined the team Płomień-Milowice (Sosnowiec). He led them to two national championships and a European Champions Cup in 1978. From 1969 to 1980, Gawłowski played 366 matches for the Polish national team, the second highest in history. He participated in three Olympic tournaments, captaining the team from 1977-1980. Known as "Little One" due to his 180 cm height, Gawłowski's versatility as a player allowed him to play as an attacker, which he did at the 1974 World Championships in Mexico, and as a setter, which he did at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
International Achievements
Gawłowski's accolades include:Olympic Champion (1976)
World Champion (1974)
Three-time Silver Medalist in European Championships
Later Career and Legacy
In 1979, Przegl?d Sportowy named Gawłowski the best volleyball player in Poland. After the Moscow Olympics, he left for Italy, playing for V. Pescara (1980-1985) and Pineto (1985-1990), where he also served as a player-coach. Wiesław Gawłowski tragically passed away on November 14, 2000, in a car accident near the town of Białobrzegi. His contributions to volleyball continue to be celebrated, and he is remembered as a true legend of the sport.
