Polish Radio hands out sports awards

Stefan Horngacher, the Austrian coach of the Polish national ski-jumping team, was honoured as coach of the year, and the Polish men's national volleyball team was named team of the year during the awards ceremony at the Olympic Centre in Warsaw.

Tennis player Iga Świątek was hailed as rookie of the year, while retired tennis star Agnieszka Radwańska won a career achievement award.

Meanwhile, a special award went to volleyball player Bartosz Kurek, who has been voted athlete of the year in a poll by listeners.

To mark the centennial of national independence, the public broadcaster named the late Halina Konopacka, Janusz Kusociński and Irena Szewińska as the Polish athletes of the century, while honouring boxing coach Feliks “Papa” Stamm as coach of the century.

Konopacka won the women’s discus throw event at the Amsterdam Summer Games to become the first Polish Olympic champion 90 years ago.

Poland is this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of regaining independence after 123 years of foreign rule.

The Polish Radio Sports Awards are now in their second year.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR