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Janusz Tracewski, legendary Polish wrestling coach, passes away at 88

01.07.2024 12:00
Janusz Tracewski, an outstanding competitor and legendary coach who shaped Polish wrestling, passed away on Saturday in Warsaw, just two days after his 88th birthday, the Polish Wrestling Association announced.
Janusz Tracewski, pictured here in 2011.
Janusz Tracewski, pictured here in 2011.PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski

Tracewski, born on June 27, 1936, in Adampol, was a celebrated coach of Polish classic style wrestling. He began his career as a wrestler for Union Brzeg Dolny club and later for the Warsaw University of Physical Education’s (AWF) sport club, where he became the Polish freestyle champion in the 79 kg category and a two-time national vice-champion in the classic style.

After graduating from AWF, Tracewski transitioned to coaching at the Gwardia Warszawa sports club from 1963 to 1969, and subsequently led the national team of classic wrestlers until 1980. Under his guidance, Polish wrestling achieved remarkable success, with his athletes winning a total of 56 Olympic, world, and European championship medals.

Following his coaching career, Tracewski held several key positions in Polish sports, including director of the Department of Competitive Sports in the Office of Physical Culture and Sports, head of the Olympic missions of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl), and member of the Coaching Commission of the World Wrestling Federation (FILA). He also headed the Department of Training at the Polish Wrestling Association (PZZ).

Tracewski authored numerous methodological and training publications on wrestling, including "Wrestling. On the Road to Mastery" in 1976. His contributions to the sport were recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Order of Polonia Restituta: the Knight's Cross (1972), the Officer's Cross (1976), and the Commander's Cross (1988). In 2017, he was honored with a place in the Polish Wrestling Hall of Fame.

(jh)

Source: IAR, PAP