Men
POL
Zbigniew Bródka
POL- Date of birth08 Oct 1984
- Height184 CM
- ProfessionFirefighter
- HometownGlowno
- Place of birthGlowno
- Start skating Club He took up the sport in 1994 in Domaniewice, Poland. UKS Blyskawica Domaniewice: Poland
- HobbiesN/A
- LanguagesEnglish, Polish, Russian
- Other nameZbyszek (dziennikzachodni.pl, 23 Feb 2014)
- FamliyWife Agnieszka, daughters Gabrysia and Amelia
- CoachN/A
- ChoreographerN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- Practice low seasonN/A
- Practice high seasonN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
He was flag bearer for Poland at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (standard.co.uk, 09 Feb 2018)
In 2014 he was presented with the Great Honourable Sport Award by the Polish Olympic Committee. (zbigniewbrodka.pl, 12 Jan 2015)
In 2014 he received the Knight's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta. (wyborcza.pl, 03 Apr 2014)
In 2014 he was presented with the Great Honourable Sport Award by the Polish Olympic Committee. (zbigniewbrodka.pl, 12 Jan 2015)
In 2014 he received the Knight's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta. (wyborcza.pl, 03 Apr 2014)
"As long as you fight, you are the winner." (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
US speed skater Shani Davis. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
He became the first Polish speed skater to win gold at the Olympic Winter Games when he triumphed in the 1500m at the 2014 Games in Sochi. (SportsDeskOnline, 25 Jul 2017; newsweek.pl, 15 Feb 2014)
His family. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
He tore his quadriceps muscle in 2017. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
In December 2014 he injured the adductor longus muscle in his thigh and was unable to compete at the 2015 European Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation. (lodz.sport.pl, 31 Dec 2014; polskieradio.pl, 31 Dec 2014)
He suffered a sprained ankle in 2004. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
A meniscus injury in his knee ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; eurosport.onet.pl, 16 Feb 2014)
In December 2014 he injured the adductor longus muscle in his thigh and was unable to compete at the 2015 European Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation. (lodz.sport.pl, 31 Dec 2014; polskieradio.pl, 31 Dec 2014)
He suffered a sprained ankle in 2004. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
A meniscus injury in his knee ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; eurosport.onet.pl, 16 Feb 2014)
Winning gold in the 1500m and bronze in team pursuit at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
RETIREMENT AND COMEBACK
He retired from competitive speed skating in 2019 before returning with an aim to compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "It's Beijing. I skated my first world junior championships in short track in Beijing back in 2003, so with the Olympic Games in Beijing [in 2022] I have to come back one more time." (isu.org, 13 Nov 2021; 10 Nov 2021)
CHANGING SPORTS
He made his World Cup debut in short track in 2003 in Dresden, Germany. He switched to speed skating in 2008 after a knee injury and problems with his meniscus meant he was not able to train at a sufficiently high level in short track. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; zbigniewbrodka.pl, 15 Jul 2017; polskieradio.pl, 15 Feb 2014)
He retired from competitive speed skating in 2019 before returning with an aim to compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "It's Beijing. I skated my first world junior championships in short track in Beijing back in 2003, so with the Olympic Games in Beijing [in 2022] I have to come back one more time." (isu.org, 13 Nov 2021; 10 Nov 2021)
CHANGING SPORTS
He made his World Cup debut in short track in 2003 in Dresden, Germany. He switched to speed skating in 2008 after a knee injury and problems with his meniscus meant he was not able to train at a sufficiently high level in short track. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; zbigniewbrodka.pl, 15 Jul 2017; polskieradio.pl, 15 Feb 2014)
He has represented Poland in short track, competing at the world championships in 2006 and 2007. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Jan 2014)
His talent was spotted by his physical education teacher Mieczyslaw Szymajda, who was a skating coach. He also liked the speed of the sport.
