Poland celebrates a memorable Beach Volleyball season with special evening in Warsaw

News from the National Federations

Warsaw, Poland, December 3, 2009. An official dinner, summing up the 2009 season for the Polish Beach Volleyball community, was organized at the end of November 2009 at the Jan III Sobieski Hotel in Warsaw. Artur Popko, Vice President of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Bogusław Adamski, Secretary General, members of the Beach Volleyball Department, coaches and other representatives of that discipline attended this event. However, the most important personalities of the evening were of course those that this year achieved the greatest successes ever for Poland in Beach Volleyball.
The Polish Volleyball Federation expressed sincere thanks for all such great successes and awarded both the players and their coaches with special diplomas and gifts.
“I hope that these achievements will lead to additional ones. I wish you to improve your skills and in the future you will achieve even greater results. I believe that soon you will get also the qualification for the next Olympic Games” said Bogusław Adamski, presenting the players with some special distinctions.
The year 2009 was undoubtedly the best in history for the Polish Beach Volleyball family.
First Bartosz Łosiak and Piotr Kantor were crowned European Champions in the U18 category. “They are absolutely unique. They did not even lose a set in Espinho, which does not happen very often. This success seems to be more precious, taking into account the fact that it was their first important and prestigious event. Although Bartosz and Piotr are only seventeen, they play nearly as professors – demonstrating their maturity, calmness and tranquility. Furthermore, they are constantly improving their skills and, what makes them so unusual, they show a special zeal and enthusiasm in playing Beach Volleyball” said Andrzej Piotrowski, coach of the younger generations of Polish Beach Volleyball players.
This year featured also the gold medal of Damian Wojtasik/Marek Leźnicki, silver for Kinga Kołosińska/Beata Gałek and bronze for Daria Paszek/Renata Bekier at the U20 European Championships in Kos (Greece).
“It is a great feeling to be the European champion. Still, it is hard for me to believe that I have the gold medal from this event – said Damian Wojtasik. – Of course, we owe this success to our coaches, Sławomir Robert and Andrzej Piotrowski, so we thank them and appreciate their amazing work”.
The most spectacular success for the Polish Beach Volleyball players came actually in Blackpool, England, during the FIVB Junior World Championships. Both Monika Brzostek/Kinga Kołosińska and Michał Kądzioła/Jakub Szałankiewicz triumphed there.
“This season was very unique for me. I achieved medals from the most significant events that I was preparing myself for. But as for now, I am even more determined. I am going to work hard in order to improve these results” claims Kinga Kołosińska.
Proud of their score can also be Grzegorz Fijałek and Mariusz Prudel, who were fifth in the European Championship Tour Final in Sochi (Russia). “The fifth place at the finals of the ECT is a great achievement that gives us a good boost. The best players take part in this competition, that is why we regard it as a real success. Nevertheless, I hope that in the nearest future we will improve this ranking” says Mariusz Prudel.

Picture: Mr. Popko and Secretary General Boguslaw Adamski honoring Grzegorz Fijalek