Barbara Szpyt (English)
Z Historia Wisły
Barbara Szpyt née Czeczótka (born October 10, 1929, in Limanowa – died October 31, 2014, in Kraków; laid to rest at Rakowicki Cemetery on November 6, 2014), was a volleyball player for Wisła Kraków from 1952 to 1963. She was a two-time bronze medalist at the World Championships (France 1956, USSR 1962) and a two-time bronze medalist at the European Championships (Romania 1955, Czechoslovakia 1958).
Privately, she was the wife of Zbigniewa Szpyta a volleyball coach.
Spis treści |
Achievements
NATIONAL TEAM
- 1955 - Bronze medal at the European Championships in Bucharest.
- 1956 - Bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris.
- 1958 - Bronze medal at the European Championships in Prague.
- 1960 - Fourth place at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.
- 1962 - Bronze medal at the World Championships in Moscow (which secured qualification for the Tokyo Olympics).
WISŁA
- 1953 - Gold medal at the Kraków Championships.
- 1955 - Bronze medal at the Polish Championships.
- 1956 - Bronze medal at the Polish Championships.
- 1958 - Silver medal at the Polish Championships.
- 1959 - Gold medal at the Polish Championships (the first-ever Polish Championship title for Wisła's women's volleyball team).
- 1960 - Silver medal at the Polish Championships.
- 1962 - Bronze medal at the Polish Championships.
- 1963 - Bronze medal at the Polish Championships.
MEDALS AT THE SPARTAKIADS OF GWARDIA ASSOCIATIONS
- 1953 - Gold medal.
- 1960 - Bronze medal.
- 1961 - Silver medal.
- 1962 - Gold medal.
- 1963 - Silver medal.
MEDALS, AWARDS, HONORS
- Distinguished Master of Sport.
- Medal for Outstanding Sports Achievements (awarded twice).
- Gold Honorary Badge of the Polish Volleyball Federation (PZPS).
- Gold Honorary Badge of TS Wisła.
Biography
BEGINNINGS
Barbara Czeczótka, daughter of Otylia and Mieczysław, was born on October 10, 1929, in Limanowa. Along with her brother Jerzy, she grew up in an "ordinary" family, where she became the first athlete in the family’s history. Her father, who was interested in sports, celebrated each of her successes, while her mother simply wanted her child to be happy.
Barbara discovered her passion for sports relatively late. While living in Limanowa, she did not engage in any specific discipline, only occasionally "hitting a ball over a string" for fun, like most children. She also enjoyed skiing and completed a skiing course in 1947.
Everything changed in 1952, after graduating from high school. As a teenager, she moved to Kraków to begin her studies at the Academy of Commerce (now the University of Economics).
"When I arrived in Kraków, even before the academic year started, they sent us to a sports camp, and I was assigned to the basketball team. Nearby, the volleyball players were training. I remember playing basketball, but I kept watching the volleyball players. I liked it more—there was no physical struggle or direct contact. That’s when I decided to switch to their team.."
As a result, Barbara later joined the volleyball team of AZS (Academic Sports Association), coached by Wacław Obuchowicz. Although she wasn’t a leading player on the team (usually serving as a substitute), she caught the attention of Wisła’s then vice-president, Jan Janowski, who invited her to join their club. Coach Obuchowicz let her go without regret, as he described her as "a tall, slim girl, but a calf." Thus, in early autumn of 1952, Barbara became a player for Biała Gwiazda (White Star).
AT REYMONTA 22
Moving to Reymonta Street fulfilled Barbara’s sports dreams, but it was her brother Jerzy, a fanatical supporter of Wisła, who was most thrilled. "He took me all over Poland; we traveled to see Wisła matches wherever they played. It fascinated him, although he never played sports himself. However, he pushed me into sports."
The beginning of her time at Wisła was not easy. She participated in the Kraków Championships but was still learning volleyball and had a lot to catch up on. She would arrive at training an hour early to polish her skills. Her hard work and ambition, combined with her talent, excellent physical condition, and good health, allowed her to progress rapidly. Within a year, she reached a level that earned her her first call-up to the Polish national team in 1954. This marked the beginning of a great and successful career.
W REPREZENTACJI POLSKI
Barbara made her debut for the Polish National Team during a tournament held in what was then Czechoslovakia, immediately earning a spot in the starting lineup. She retained her position in the first six until the end of her career. Over the years, her coaches included Lucjan Tyszecki, Zygmunt Krzyżanowski, Zbigniew Szpyt, Jerzy Szewczyk, and Stanisław Mazur. Each of them appreciated her skills and the class she displayed on the court. In total, she played 91 matches in the red-and-white jersey of Poland.
Her husband and coach, Zbigniew Szpyt, recalled: "While playing and being in excellent form, my wife decided to retire from the National Team in 1960, right after the World Championships. The Polish Federation accepted her decision. During a league match in Kraków, the vice-president of the Polish Volleyball Federation (PZPS) came, presented her with a large bouquet of flowers in front of the audience, and thanked her for representing Poland from 1954 to 1960. For two years, nothing happened. But in 1962, the European Championships were about to begin in Moscow, which also served as qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics. Volleyball was set to debut at the Olympics for the first time. The Federation wanted to ensure the strongest possible lineup to secure qualification. Since Barbara was playing very well in the league, they began to plead with her to return to the National Team. Federation officials personally called our home on Jaracza Street, repeatedly asking and begging. I want to stress that my wife was truly tired of playing on two fronts, but she was also worn out by the constant requests—even I kept pleading with her. Finally, she gave in. She went to the training camp, then to Moscow, and Poland qualified for the Olympics. The euphoria was immense. I was there as an observer representing Gwardia. After the final match, coach Jerzy Szewczyk and president Tadeusz Brzósko asked to meet with me and my Basia. Both tried to convince her to stay on the team until Tokyo, promising she would go even if she wasn’t in top form. But she was as stubborn as a goat. She never played for the National Team again."
A TOUGH PLAYER
As a player, Barbara was known in the volleyball community for her extraordinary work ethic. "I enjoyed volleyball; it was fun for me, which is why I never slacked off" - she recalled Zbigniew Szpyt added: "She wasn’t a naturally gifted volleyball player. I had girls at training who were incredibly talented, but they didn’t achieve anything because they weren’t willing to put in the effort. But Barbara wanted to know, to learn, and she tried very hard.".
Barbara became famous for her exceptional mental toughness and composure during critical moments of the game. "I never got nervous before or during a match, and the higher the stakes, the more motivated I was. What I loved the most was when the crowd was against us, when they whistled at us" - she recalled. "In tough moments, the team would rely on Basia because she could handle anything," Zbigniew Szpyt added . He also admitted that, "n so-called easy matches that were a guaranteed win, Basia didn’t push herself because she didn’t need to. Meanwhile, Wanda Tumidajewicz, who was less mentally tough, thrived in those situations and would go wild.".
On October 22, 1955, Barbara married her coach, Zbigniew Szpyt. After completing her studies on time, Barbara began working as an accountant and later served as a chief accountant for many years until her retirement. Disciplined and consistent, she managed to seamlessly balance her professional career with her sports commitments.
Gallery of Barbara Szpyt’s Memorabilia
A Poem by Zbigniew Szpyt Titled "Wife"
Excerpt from: "The 50th Anniversary Jubilee Book of Wisła"
" ... Barbara Szpyt (...) became interested in sports entirely by chance. One day, instead of taking a walk in the forest, she wandered onto a sports field. After several more or less successful appearances, she joined Wisła in 1952. Her brother, a devoted Wisła fan and loyal supporter of the football team, played no small role in this decision. Long before 1952, she hadn’t missed a single football match (of course, always with her brother). After two years of training, she was selected for the national team. This was no coincidence, as this talented player had already caught the attention of coaches."
"Her first appearance for the national team ended in great success. From that year on, she became a permanent member of the Polish National Team. Among many matches, Basia’s greatest experience was representing Poland in a victorious match against the reigning world champions, the USSR. This took place this year during an international tournament in Szczecin." "In addition to her 30 appearances for the Polish National Team, Barbara Szpyt (wife of Wisła’s volleyball coach) played over 200 matches for the club. Her performances significantly contributed to the team’s successes, including their honorable third-place finish in Poland last season.""
Source: Księga jubileuszowa 50-lecia Wisły.
Gallery
Wisła Clans
Press Relations
Echo Krakowa. 1961, nr 57 (8 III) nr 4877
Athletes such as St. Biegunówna and J. Pęksa Czerniawska—top runners in Central Europe—are extremely popular, as are Jóźwiakowska, a silver medalist from Rome in the high jump, B. Janiszewska, a bronze medalist in the 4x100m relay, sprinter Bibrowa, javelin thrower Figwerówna, and many other national representatives. Among them is the well-known volleyball player Barbara Szpyt.
— Doctor, we turn to Mr. Zbigniew, knowing his wife’s modesty, we decided to talk to you about Mrs. Barbara's sports career. This will be a special interview for "Women's Day" with the husband of a sportswoman! For our readers, let me clarify that Dr. Zbigniew Szpyt has been the coach of Wisła’s top-league women’s volleyball team for many years and a co-creator of its numerous successes (including the Polish Championship).
— What were the beginnings of your wife’s sports career? — Barbara started playing volleyball relatively late. Nevertheless, when she played for the academic team of the Higher School of Economics in 1951, she caught the attention of experts.
She soon joined Wisła, where this season she celebrates the 10th anniversary of her career with the team.
— Mrs. Barbara has been continuously representing Poland for many years. How is it that she is almost always one of the best players on the team? — That’s true. My wife was first called up to the national team in 1955, and since then, she has played in dozens of international matches without interruption. The secret to her consistently high performance lies in her athletic lifestyle and diligent training.
— Does this involve many sacrifices? — Of course. As a coach, I’ve always been satisfied with Barbara, although our social life and sometimes even... family life have often suffered because of it. Especially when my wife had to take part in training camps or participate in European or World Championships. For example, recently, due to the World Championships in Brazil, she was only a guest at home. On this occasion, I’ll reveal to Echo’s readers that Barbara has requested the Polish Volleyball Federation to remove her from the national team.
— At the height of her fame? — She believes it’s for the best. Although she plans to continue playing for the club team.
— Thank you, Doctor, for the information, and through you, we extend our warmest wishes to your wife for “Women's Day.” We also send similar wishes to all sportswomen of Kraków and the province.
Interview by: (J.F.)
Requiescat in pace
Barbara Szpyt’s grave at Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków.
 |
 |
 |
