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ZAWROTNIAK Radoslaw
NOC Poland   
GenderMen
Born 02 Sep 1981 in Kraków, POL
Height1.81 m
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team AZS AWF Krakow: Poland
Why this sport? His parents signed him up at Krakow Fencing Club in Poland and the sport became his biggest passion.
Name of coach Robert Andrzejuk [national], POL; Beata Tereba-Zawrotniak [personal, wife], POL
Handedness Left
When and where did you begin this sport? He began fencing at age eight in Krakow, Poland.
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete, Coach
Family Wife Beata Tereba, twins Rozalia and Karol
Languages English, Polish
General Interest
Nicknames Radek (zawrotniak.com, 31 May 2013)
Famous relatives His wife Beata Tereba represented Poland in fencing at the 2010 European Championships in Leipzig, Germany. (sport.onet.pl, 16 May 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 09 Jul 2015)
Awards and honours In 2008 he was presented with the Golden Cross of Merit in Poland. (zawrotniak.com, 05 Jan 2014)

He was named the 2008 Athlete of the Year in Malopolska, Poland. (zawrotniak.com, 05 Jan 2014)
Further Personal Information
Residence Kraków, POL
General Interest
Injuries At the beginning of 2017 he struggled with tennis elbow. (dziennikpolski24.pl, 03 Mar 2017)
Memorable sporting achievement Winning silver in team epee at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. "I worked for it 20 years, it's the most important medal in my career." (tvn.pl, 14 Feb 2020)
Ambitions To attend the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as an athlete and coach. (Ckultura YouTube channel, 22 Mar 2022)
Other information COACHING ROLE
In 2007 he began working as a coach at the AZS AWF Krakow club in Poland. Among the fencers he has trained is Aleksandra Jarecka. "I have worked out my own programme that allows me to realise both my athlete and coach duties. I've already been in this sport for three decades, it's my passion and I'm never bored or tired of it. I'm comfortable that I can combine work with pleasure. By coaching Aleksandra I also do something for myself. If we run, we run together. The same when we go to the gym, and we spar a lot with each other." (sport.onet.pl, 16 May 2019; tvn.pl, 14 Feb 2020)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He has a degree in sport management from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. (Facebook profile, 19 Jun 2018)
Sporting philosophy / motto "Epee is about reflex, speed, and, most of all, motor coordination. I think it's a beautiful sport. It's interesting to train because you use all other sports. You use elements of team sports, athletics, weightlifting, swimming. Fencing is sometimes called a 'late sport'. I say fencing starts after age 20 because you need a lot of experience and bouts under your belt. There is no weight or height classes in fencing so you need to get to know many different styles and gather years of experience. And if you are smart and have a smart coach, you will use this experience to your advantage." (Ckultura YouTube channel, 22 Mar 2022)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2008 2 Team Epee Beijing, China
2008 6 Individual Epee Beijing, China
World Championships
2013 4 Team Epee Budapest, Hungary
2013 Quarterfinal Individual Epee Budapest, Hungary
2012 8 Team Epee Kiev, Ukraine
2010 7 Team Epee Paris, France
2009 3 Team Epee Antalya, Turkey
2007 7 Team Epee St. Petersburg, Russia
European Championships
2019 Final 7-8 Team Epee Düsseldorf, Germany
2013 6 Team Epee Zagreb, Croatia
2011 5 Individual Epee Sheffield, England
2010 3 Individual Epee Leipzig, Germany
2010 8 Team Epee Leipzig, Germany
2009 4 Team Epee Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2008 4 Team Epee Kiev, Ukraine
2007 2 Team Epee Ghent, Belgium