Bartosz Kurek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bartosz Kurek |
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Kurek in 2018
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Bartosz Kamil Kurek | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Kuraś | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 29 August 1988 Wałbrzych, Poland |
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| Height | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 105 kg (231 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spike | 370 cm (146 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Block | 340 cm (134 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Opposite / Outside hitter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Tokyo Great Bears | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Bartosz Kurek is a famous Polish volleyball player. He was born on August 29, 1988. He plays as an 'opposite spiker' and is the captain of the Polish national team. Bartosz has played in four Olympic Games, winning a silver medal at the Paris 2024 games.
He also helped his team win the World Championship in 2018. He has won the European Championship twice, in 2009 and 2023. In 2019, he made history by becoming the first volleyball player to be named the Polish Sports Personality of the Year.
Contents
About Bartosz Kurek
Bartosz Kurek was born in Wałbrzych, Poland. He grew up in a town called Nysa. His father, Adam Kurek, was also a volleyball player. Bartosz first played basketball when he was young. Later, he decided to focus on volleyball. He has a younger brother named Jakub. Bartosz is married to Anna Grejman, who used to be a volleyball player too.
Bartosz Kurek's Club Career
Bartosz started his volleyball journey in 2004. He played for a team from Nysa for one year. His father was also on that team. For the next three years, from 2005 to 2008, he played for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. This club is part of the PlusLiga, which is Poland's top volleyball league.
Playing for Skra Bełchatów
In 2008, Bartosz joined PGE Skra Bełchatów. This team is one of the most successful in the PlusLiga. Bartosz quickly became a very important player for them. With Skra, he won the Polish Championship three times. These wins were in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
On the international stage, he also achieved great things with Skra. They won two silver medals at the Club World Championship. These were in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, they also won a bronze medal in the CEV Champions League. In 2012, they reached the final of the CEV Champions League. They won a silver medal after a tough match against Zenit Kazan. Bartosz was named the Best spiker of that tournament.
Playing in Russia and Italy
After the 2011–12 season, Bartosz left Skra Bełchatów. He signed a contract with a Russian team, Dynamo Moscow. However, he had an injury and could not play much for them.
After one season in Russia, Bartosz moved to Italy. He joined the Italian club Lube Banca Macerata. In 2014, his team won the Italian Championship. They beat Sir Safety Perugia in the final. In October 2014, Lube also won the Italian Super Cup.
Return to Poland and Japan
On May 4, 2015, Bartosz signed with Asseco Resovia in Poland. He won a silver medal in the Polish Championship with them in 2016. After that, he left Resovia and joined a Japanese club, JT Thunders.
In October 2016, Bartosz announced he was taking a break from volleyball. He felt very tired, both physically and mentally. He ended his contract with JT Thunders. Later that year, he returned to his old club, PGE Skra Bełchatów.
In 2018, Bartosz joined another Polish club, Stocznia Szczecin. However, the club had money problems. So, in November 2018, Bartosz ended his contract with them. A few days later, in December 2018, he joined Onico Warsaw.
Bartosz Kurek's National Team Career
Bartosz Kurek has been a key player for the Polish national team since 2007.
Early Successes
In 2009, Bartosz and the Polish team won a gold medal at the European Championship in Turkey. Because of this great achievement, he received a special award called the Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta. The Prime Minister of Poland gave him this award.
In July 2011, the Polish team won their first medal in the FIVB Volleyball World League. They earned a bronze medal by beating Argentina. Bartosz was recognized as the Best scorer of the tournament. Later that year, Poland played in the European Championship. They were the defending champions. Bartosz was a very important player. The team won another bronze medal after beating Russia. Bartosz also received an award for the Best server at this tournament. In November 2011, even with a back injury, Bartosz helped his team win a silver medal at the World Cup in Japan. This win helped Poland qualify for the Olympic Games.
Olympic Games and World Championship
In July 2012, the Polish team won a gold medal in the World League. Bartosz Kurek was named the Most valuable player of the tournament. He was one of the most important players for Poland at the London 2012 Olympic Games. However, Poland lost to Russia in the quarter-finals and was out of the tournament.
In 2014, Bartosz was part of the team for the European Championship qualification. He was not on the team for the World Championship held in Poland that year.
After a year away, he returned to the national team in May 2015. He played in the first match of the World League against Russia. He was the top scorer in that match.
On September 30, 2018, Poland won its third World Champion title. Poland beat Brazil in the final, winning 3–0. They successfully defended their title from 2014. Bartosz Kurek was named the Most valuable player of the tournament.
Most recently, on August 10, 2024, Bartosz won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Awards and Honors
Bartosz Kurek has received many awards throughout his career.
Individual Awards
- 2005: CEV U19 European Championship – Best spiker
- 2009: FIVB Club World Championship – Best scorer
- 2011: Polish Cup – Best spiker
- 2011: FIVB World League – Best scorer
- 2011: CEV European Championship – Best server
- 2012: CEV Champions League – Best spiker
- 2012: FIVB World League – Most valuable player
- 2018: FIVB World Championship – Most valuable player
- 2018: CEV – Male volleyball player of the year
- 2019: Polish Sports Personality of the Year 2018
- 2021: FIVB Nations League – Most valuable player (shared)
- 2021: FIVB Nations League – Best opposite spiker
- 2021: Emperor's Cup – Most valuable player
- 2022: FIVB World Championship – Best opposite spiker
- 2023: Japan V.League – Most valuable player & Best SIX
- 2023: Kurowashiki tournament – Most valuable player & Best SIX
State Awards
- 2009: Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta
- 2018: Officer's Cross of Polonia Restituta
- 2024: Commander's Cross of Polonia Restituta
Images for kids
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On September 30, 2011, during a match at Ergo Arena, Gdańsk.
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Bartosz Kurek in 2013.
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Polish volleyball players celebrating a win at Spodek in Katowice.
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See also
In Spanish: Bartosz Kurek para niños
