Inside Polish Sports

Piotr Zieliński set off a Scudetto party at San Siro as his goal helped Inter win their 21st Italian title and Zielu's second after winning it with Napoli three years ago. Meanwhile, in Porto Kiwior, Bednarek and Pietuszewski celebrated their own domestic crown. When did I hear that before: Three Polish guys in one club, hmmmmmmmmmmm........? Also, Wisła are all but promoted, Lech are all but champions, Ewa Pajor is all but a CL winner with Barca, Jeremy Sochan is all but sitting on the Knicks bench, and the Polish Luge head coach was all but fired through..........a Facebook job advert. Episode introduced by the one and only New York Islanders legend Mariusz Czerkawski, whom I met at the Division I A World Championships in Sosnowiec on Sunday! Full review of that tournament in next week's episode.

On this special retrospective, we will talk about an event unsung outside of the Polish borders, but one that forever changed us as a sporting nation. In May 1953, two months after Poland was forced to mourn its chief abuser Stalin, Feliks "Papa" Stamm coached our amateur boxers to nine European Championship medals at Warsaw's Gwardia Hall. Five of those medals were gold, and three came by beating the Ruskis in the finals. This is the story of how Stamm assembled his team of warriors and how even family tragedy and mortal disease could not stop us from finally imposing our will upon the enemy, even if only with fists instead of tanks.

The world is in awe and gives its gratitude to Piotr "Łatwogang" Garkowski and the folks at Cancer Fighters for their record charity livestream, which raised close to US$70 million. Athletes also chipped in to this nation-defining event with Lewy, Iga, Jan Błachowicz, Kuba Błaszczykowski, Piotr Zieliński and Vladimir Semirunniy all giving their money, time, gifts, and sometimes hair! Iga herself had a tough weekend after only the second match retirement in her career. However, Irish Dave argues that once she gets to Paris, her Grand Slam record and mindset will help her win a fifth French Open. Only the true greats have achieved this plateau in a singular major. Also, Totti, Ronaldinho and chums have some middle-aged fun in Chorzów, the ZondaCrypto/Polish Olympic Committee scandal gets even worse, and after the two hour marathon barrier was broken in London we discuss which sports would benefit from more regulated equipment. The retrospective on the Amateur Boxing Euros 1953 will premiere on Thursday. Stay tuned!

The Polish Olympic Committee cannot pay the due prize money to our Olympic medalists from Milano Cortina because..............half that prize money is in Bitcoin-like tokens from the committee's chief sponsor ZondaCrypto. The exchange has been uncovered for having Russian mafia connections and losing over 99% of the inverstors' value. And what does disgraced chairman Radosław Piesiewicz do..........blame the government, of course! Poland's only proper motor racing track in Poznań can be closed down.........because of noise limits??? In a forest? Although not even Formula 3 cars race there anymore? Some times health and safety needs are truly ridiculous! And in happier news: Piotr Zielinski gets his 50th Serie A goal and why Antek Kowalski's Crucible debut cannot be wasted in the future like Kacper Filipiak's early potential.

Since Friday morning, the Polish Football family has been in shock and disbelief over the death of Jacek Magiera at the age of just 49. He may have achieved pretty much anything he could've dreamt of in the beautiful game: Polish champion as player and manager, Champions League nights against Ronaldo and Aubameyang, success with Śląsk Wrocław and Zagłębie Sosnowiec, and most recently Poland assistant under Jan Urban. Yet it is not the professional dreams that have defined Jacek's life and the memories of and tributes to him. He said that his biggest dream was to live another twenty years to see his kids: Gosia and Jasiu, to have their kids. It is truly unfair that he didn't get to experience that. However, we can be sure that he is already the proudest tatuś is paradise.

On this historical retrospective we mark the golden anniversary of Polish Ice Hockey's finest hour. It may not be as lauded and mythic as the American Miracle on Ice, but our one and only victory over the Soviet Union on April 8, 1976, at the Katowice Spodek was truly as improbable as Hockey upsets could ever get. This is the story of how it unfolded and how it wouldn't have even taken place if not for goalie Andrzej Tkacz being taken off the hook after the SB wanted to arrest him! Special thanks to Piotr Chłystek and his book "Cuda na Kiju"! link: https://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/5165852/cuda-na-kiju-niezwykla-historia-hokejowej-reprezentacji-polski

Polish Football's best era since the 1980's ended last night in Stockholm. And frankly we and our sanity are all the better for it. Because where does it say that Football must be our most popular sport just by acclamation? We are lucky to have had Lewy because he is the only star of his caliber we have produced over the past 40 years. And he sure didn't do it thanks to the structures that our beautiful game has. It's time to stop hoping for what is above our ceiling, which just got much lower. Also, Kamil Stoch ended his spotless and Mount Rushmore-level career on Sunday, 20 years to the week since, in the same place, he met his wife Ewa. Their relationship is truly a gift to us all, just as much as his victories.

As we await the World Cup playoffs, let's take a look back at the most important match in Polish football history. 53 years ago an unfancied but hungry side came to the mecca of the beautiful game and, with a little verbal jab from Brian Clough, made Wembley into a buzz word for generations of Poles. This is the story of how a "clown" named Jan Tomaszewski stopped Alf Ramsey's England and helped launch a golden era for the Biało-Czerwoni.

Poland awaits(and dreads) this Thursday's World Cup playoff semifinal against Albania as Łukasz Skorupski is injured and Jan Urban selects Bartosz Bereszyński instead of his Palermo teammate. Iga Świątek is shocked by Magda Linette in Miami and sacks her coach Wim Fisette. Frankly, whoever the replacement is, they have to keep Iga calm and aware of her mastery. Also, Kacper Tomasiak, Kasia Niewiadoma and Michał Kwiatkowski all crash on skis and bikes, respectively(happily they weren't hurt), Kuba Szymański wins World Indoor gold and Kamila Sellier provides an update on her horrific Olympic eye injury. Errata Disclamer: Marc Andre Ter Stegen moved to Girona(close enough, I guess!), whilst Vincenzo Montella manages Turkey, not Albania. Tonight we're facing Sylvinho's side(I guess I omitted him because he played 2 seasons for Arsenal and then beat us with Barca in the CL Final.................)

Apparently, the new USTA boss wants women to play best-of-five-setters in Grand Slams from the quarterfinals onwards. Iga is said to benefit from this move the most but even she understands that an extra two hours of Tennis isn't necessarily good for you! Also, Irish Dave and I discuss the Ekstraklasa big boys being hoisted by their own financial petards, the verdict in the Śląsk/Wisła forfeit saga, Łukasz Piszczek sacked as a rookie manager by GKS Tychy and the government's plans for a much-needed participation sports reform.

In this historical retrospective, we take a lookback at the godfather of Polish Tennis and how what should've been the biggest win of his career was derailed by Kirk Douglas and his wife! This is the story of Wojciech Fibak, a Renaissance man in more ways than one.

Wisła Kraków and its owner, Jarosław Królewski, have reminded Polish Football of its sordid past by forfeiting the 1. Liga game against Śląsk Wrocław. The reason: Śląsk didn't allow Wisła's hooligans to come to Wrocław because they didn't want to forgo bearing weapons. The club that used to be run by the underworld of Football fans/criminals has once again cowered to them. Also, Oskar Pietruszewski's wonder goal against Benfica, Harry Kane chasing Lewy's Bundesliga record, Vladimir Semirunniy gets another medal and how PDC's new chief referee almost fainted in Kraków the other week.

In Part 2 of our lookback on the career of Andrzej Gołota, we'll talk about his two homecomings in Poland, the mafia ties with the infamous Pershing gang of Pruszków, the two times he should've won the heavyweight title and the inevitable in-ring decline into a comfortable retirement and, in the end, universal admiration.

Hide behind your Foul Poles, because this is Part 1 of a two-part retrospective on the most famous and controversial of Polish Heavyweights. This is the story of the many Boxing peaks and valleys of Andrzej Gołota(Please don't call him Andrew!)

Another Winter Olympics have come and gone, a surprisingly good fortnight for Team Poland. Kamila Sellier's short track crash has made international headlines, but happily it wasn't as serious as we feared. Eliza Rucka-Michałek came back from health scares, forced retirement and motherhood to finish 8th in cross country's marathon equivalent. And I must do a mea culpa regarding the men's hockey final(Damn you and your teeth Jack Hughes!)

Irish Dave joins me again as we finally get our bad weather revenge for the 1974 World Cup semifinal with Tomasiak and Wąsek winning the team event silver instead of the Germans after it was cut short due to a Narnia-like amount of snow. Also, Andżelika Wójcik accuses Speed Skating bosses of not giving her coach(turns out she went freelance on her own behest) and Dave rants about Curling taking up half the games' schedule.

We're doing so well in Milan that I'm giving you a second episode this week! In Speed Skating, Vladimir Semirunniy repays the faith of us adopting him from Russia and of his own Olympic dreams almost ruined by Putin's invasion by winning silver in the 10000 metres. Whilst Kacper Tomasiak added to his growing legend by adding a bronze on the large hill.

Turns out these Winter Olympics won't be a lost cause for Poland after all! 19-year-old Kacper Tomasiak becomes our youngest ever medalist at the Winter Games with a silver on the normal hill. All of this in spite of the storm surrounding Adam Małysz and the PZN as well as the president. Also, where can I order our figure skaters' plush pierogis? Why Warsaw should actually bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics(even if we lose in the end) and why is a German company our kit sponsor?

In our last pre-Winter Olympics episode Irish Dave joins me again to talk about all the cameras at the Australian Open, Iga's funny comments about it, and why she is still more likeable than war apologist Sabalenka. Also, why Ekstraklasa is the closest league in Europe, soon-to-be-promoted Wisła will welcome Wrexham to Kraków in July and Ola Mirosław retires from Sports Climbing.

In Episode 9 the Poles go a full 6-for-6 in the first round of the Australian Open, a "happy slam" even more so for us than for other nations. Polish Handball meanwhile is going in the opposite direction, as the national team loses all three group games at the Euros. And my historical deep dive on the Dakar Rally and Poland's contributions to motorsport's toughest event.

In Episode 8, Klaudia Zwolinska used her social media to the fullest extent to become Poland's Sports Personality of the Year and Mariusz Czerkawski did a rookie of the year performance as host. Also, Lewy puts Xabi Alonso in the job office, Iga and Co. win the United Cup, Kamil Stoch's farewell in Zakopane, Speed Skating wonders in Tomaszów Mazowiecki and how Damian Knyba was robbed of the interim heavyweight title.

In Episode 7 I am joined by my friend Irish Dave for a more rose-tinted glasses' review of 2025. On tap we'll have the US Open hat snatcher, Nawrocki's hooligan allegations, Polish Olympic Committee's ludicrous crypto sponsorship and Lewy reaching 100 Champions League goals. Also how even in defeat, Krzysztof Ratajski made us all proud at the Ally Pally.

In Episode 6 we take a historical deep dive on, to this day, the most universally beloved Polish athlete of all time. This is how Adam Małysz launched Małyszomania 25 years ago this week, and how its spirit still runs wild in our love of Ski Jumping.

In Episode 5 it's the awards season as I give out the first annual Kubbies(the name I made up myself) to the best and worst performers of our sporting year. Also, Marek Papszun has turned Raków Częstochowa into a domestic and Conference League powerhouse, and Dartsmas has also spread to our parts with three Poles in the Ally Pally draw.

In Episode 4, The L in Legia stands for endless losses. Join me as we catch up on their European and Domestic results. Also, with the end of the year in sight, the Polish Sports Personality of the Year(voting for the whole Top 10 in our case) is celebrating its centenary. I will talk about the tradition of the afterparty ball and how you have to stay on the dancefloor until the eggplant is served at dawn. Plus, I will reveal my choices for this year's Top 10 athletes. Follow me at: https://www.tiktok.com/@jakubwidlarz98 https://www.youtube.com/@jakubwidlarz https://www.facebook.com/jakub.widlarz/ https://bsky.app/profile/kubawidlarz98.bsky.social Write to me at: [email protected]

POLAND HAVE WON THE WORLD CUP! The World Socca Cup, that is. But we'll take six-a-side glory over any hope of winning the FIFA equivalent. The one for which a draw just took place, but we don't know whether we've qualified for. I'll wait until March to assess our playoff chances at length.  Also in Episode 3 we've had a pretty good week in (short course) swimming in Lublin, whilst in Holland a Russian immigrant with our passport has set a sea level world record in speed skating. Both of these sports have a special place in my heart thanks to the Olympic heroics of Otylia Jędrzejczak and Zbigniew Bródka. Their stories and how those wins affected me, bringing me in the latter case to my life's singular happy tears.  Introduction by Joe Morrow, former NHL defenceman turned Unia Oświęcim star who's turning 33 today. Happy Birthday Joe!  Follow me at:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jakubwidlarz98 https://www.youtube.com/@jakubwidlarz https://www.facebook.com/jakub.widlarz/  https://bsky.app/profile/kubawidlarz98.bsky.social Write to me at: [email protected]  

In Episode 2 I will be talking about how the UEFA Conference League is the best thing to ever happen to the Ekstraklasa(Unless you're a Legia fan because now not only can't you win a raffle but Michał Probierz could be your next manager!). Our basketball guys did a reverse blackjack on the Dutch coming back from 21 down. Whilst Piotr Lisek is taking a break from pole vaulting for.........an MMA fight? His second? Really? Also Kamil Stoch might go to his last Olympics without his two best teammates and why "Everyone watched Women's Sports" here in Poland years before the rest of Europe. Maybe my personal experiences had something to do with that! Follow me at: https://www.tiktok.com/@jakubwidlarz98 https://www.youtube.com/@jakubwidlarz https://www.facebook.com/jakub.widlarz/ https://bsky.app/profile/kubawidlarz98.bsky.social Write to me at: [email protected]

On this inaugural episode of Inside Polish Sports I will be talking about Robert Lewandowski's 1000th career match(If you count all the friendlies), how, despite his stardom and goals the Polish national team is still in purgatory on the road to the World Cup finals and why although this is a seemingly golden era the beautiful game isn't really our national sport. Ski Jumping would be closer to that moniker(Yes, really!) and that sport's Polish GOAT Kamil Stoch is on his John Cena-esque retirement tour. Also, in an age when it's suicidal to stage an Olympic bid, Warsaw will try to host the games in 15 years. Why not instead of something that has and will again fail, actually help the younger hopes in our sport? Lastly, two wonderful stories of how cash-strapped Ice Hockey and Rugby provided needed respite for those in need. Follow me at: https://www.tiktok.com/@jakubwidlarz98 https://www.youtube.com/@jakubwidlarz https://www.facebook.com/jakub.widlarz/ https://bsky.app/profile/kubawidlarz98.bsky.social Write to me at: [email protected] Also, take time to listen to the Polish Futbol Podcast from our friends at PSN: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fAUcIp0znxTRKubR3MsSs