Tomasz Wójtowicz lost the match of a lifetime

Posted On: October 25, 2022

He fought until the end, as befits Hubert Wagner’s team. But he couldn’t win this game. Tomasz Wójtowicz, the legendary volleyball player, was defeated by cancer.

When Poland in Mexico won the world championship for the first time, he was only 21 years old. It was 1974. Two years later, without him, there would probably be no gold in the field games in Montreal. The only one so far. We have had great representation and extraordinary players over the years, but no contemporary volleyball player has achieved such a double title.

Tomasz Wójtowicz in the Hall of Fame

He did not lose his mind even in the most difficult moments. In the final ball of the fifth set, he was the one to complete the most important attack. Only the biggest ones are like that. It is appreciated by fans and professionals alike. He was the first Pole to be elected to the volleyball celebrity world gallery.

It’s hard to compare Wójtowicz to the stars of today. After all, almost half a century had passed since his greatest victory. After all, it’s not just the youngest fans who don’t remember the game to 15 points in a set, which can only be scored with their own serve. And such rules apply at that time. In an interview a few months ago, Tomasz Wójtowicz demonstrated much better technical training and greater flexibility in the past. As long as he had strength, he observed his beloved discipline closely. He is, among other things, a commentator at Polsat.

To this day, I have a picture of Tomasz Wojtowicz limping during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He has back and meniscus problems, but he tries to help the team. If he was healthy, he and his friends would most likely win another, maybe a gold medal, and not just fourth place.

Support for protector

Today, people who know him not only from the field are talking about the death of the grand master. They emphasized that he was a popular, modest and valuable person. For the past three years she has been battling her illness. During this time, he was distinguished and respected time and time again. It was as if all these differences were to relieve suffering. For example, he became an honorary citizen of Lublin and widnik, the places closest to him.

Chemotherapy cannot fight cancer. Literally a few days ago, we received an appeal from the Lublin Tomasz Wójtowicz Volleyball Development Foundation for support for its patron. Funds raised will be used for experimental treatment.