Poland has produced some of the world’s greatest athletes, many of whom have gone on to achieve tremendous success in their respective fields. While Robert Lewandowski is certainly the most famous Polish athlete today, he is far from the only one worth knowing about.
Of course, it is impossible to deny that the current FC Barcelona striker is the greatest Polish athlete of all time, as the forward has been a huge success while playing football as he has managed to score hundreds of goals at an incredible rate. Indeed, many who use the real money online casinos that are available with sports betting options have continued to place bets on Lewandowski finding the back of the net for his new club this season because of the ability he has in front of goal.
However, for the sake of this article, we thought we would take a look at four other great Polish athletes that you should all be aware of. So, without further ado, here they are in no particular order:
Anita Włodarczyk – Hammer Thrower
Anita Włodarczyk is a hammer thrower who has been dominant in her sport for over a decade. She is a three-time Olympic medalist, having won gold in 2012, 2016, and 2020. In addition, she is a four-time World Champion, and four-time European Champion, and holds the world record in the hammer throw with a throw of 82.98 meters. Simply put, she is one of the greatest hammer throwers of all time.
Iga Swiatek – Tennis Player
Iga Swiatek burst onto the scene by winning the 2020 French Open at just 19 years old. She became the first Polish player ever to win a Grand Slam singles title and managed to win the French Open without dropping a single set. She also won the tournament in 2022, while she managed to win the US Open the same year, too, thus further cementing her place as the World No. 1 in the rankings. With her combination of power and finesse, Swiatek is already being hailed as one of the best players in tennis today.
Jakub Błaszczykowski – Football Player
Jakub Błaszczykowski is a professional football player who spent the majority of his career playing for the German club Borussia Dortmund. He was an integral part of Dortmund’s successful run from 2010 to 2016, during which they won two Bundesliga titles and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2013. Błaszczykowski was also a key member of Poland’s national team, helping them reach the quarterfinals of Euro 2012 (their best-ever finish). He currently plays for Wisła Kraków, where he is a part owner after spells at Fiorentina and VfL Wolfsburg.
Bartosz Kurek – Volleyball Player
Bartosz Kurek is one of the best volleyball players in the world. An outside hitter, he has won numerous individual awards, including being named MVP for the FIVB World League and the FIVB World Championship (two of volleyball’s biggest competitions). He has also won numerous medals in his career thus far, with many of the world’s biggest competitions having been conquered. Kurek currently plays for the Japanese club Wolfdogs Nagoya and is widely regarded as one of the best players in volleyball today.
Final Thoughts
Poland has produced some truly great athletes over the years, many of whom have enjoyed tremendous success at both the domestic and international levels. While Robert Lewandowski may be the most famous Polish athlete today, he is far from being the only one worth knowing about. Anita Włodarczyk, Iga Swiatek, Jakub Błaszczykowski, and Bartosz Kurek are all great athletes in their own right and have achieved tremendous success in their respective sports.