Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
KS Budowlani Opole: Poland |
Why this sport? |
"I have always been interested in sports. I practised sailing first, but then my brother got me hooked on weightlifting." |
Name of coach |
Ryszard Szewczyk [club], POL; Ryszard Socko [national], POL |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up weightlifting in 1997 in Sepolno Krajenskie, Poland. |
International Debut |
Year |
2000 |
Competing for |
Poland |
Tournament |
Grand Prix |
Location |
Slovakia |
General Interest |
Injuries |
In December 2015 he underwent minor hip surgery and couldn't train for few weeks while recovering. (katowickisport.pl, 27 Dec 2015; tvn24.pl, 01 Mar 2016)
In November 2014 he suffered a quadriceps tear. (allthingsgym.com, 31 Dec 2014)
In April 2014 he underwent surgery on a wrist injury. (se.pl, 18 Sep 2014)
In 2012 he injured both wrists, but recovered in time to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (se.pl, 07 Aug 2012) |
Famous relatives |
His wife Barbara and father-in-law Marek Sachmacinski have represented Poland in weightlifting. (uni-leipzig.de, 09 Sep 2014; polska-sztanga.pl, 01 Jan 2012) |
Awards and honours |
In 2013 he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit by Polish president Bronislaw Komorowski. (thenews.pl, 10 Jun 2013) |
Sport Specific Information |
Footedness |
Right |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
English, Polish |
General Interest |
Other information |
FAMILY LOSS In November 2012 one of his twin daughters Julia was born with severe cerebral hypoxia and he took a six-month break from weightlifting to care for the girls. Julia eventually died in February 2014 and he now dedicates all his achievements to her memory. (se.pl, 18 Sep 2014; wyborcza.pl, 13 Feb 2014; newpolandexpress.pl, 30 Nov 2012)
SANCTION In 2004 he was suspended for three years after testing positive for a banned substance. The ban was lifted after 18 months and he returned to competition in 2006. (wyborcza.pl, 15 Mar 2006)
PLANS AFTER RIO 2016 He has announced the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro will be his third and final Olympic competition. Afterwards he plans taking a break before preparing himself for the 2017 European Championships in Split, Croatia. (katowickisport.pl, 27 Dec 2015)
FOUNDATION In 2015 he and his wife created the foundation 'Fight For Me' ['Walcz o mnie'] in memory of their daughter Julia. The aim of foundation is to raise money and equipment for the Hospice for Children in Opole, Poland. (tvp24.pl, 05 Nov 2015) |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Wife Barbara, son Mateusz [born 2004], daughter Maja [2012] |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Residence |
Opole, POL |
Higher education |
Sport Management - Academy of Management and Administration [WSZiA]: Opole, POL |
General Interest |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning a gold medal at the 2015 European Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. (sport.wp.pl, 19 Apr 2015) |
Nicknames |
Bartek (budowlaniopole.eu, 22 Nov 2015) |