Lucyna Kwaśniewska (English)
Z Historia Wisły
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| narodowość |  Polska
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| nazwisko panieńskie | Kuśnierz | ||
| urodzona | 1961, Kraków | ||
| wzrost | 179 cm | ||
| pozycja | outside hitter | ||
| osiągnięcia seniorskie | 1.1st place in the Polish Championships (1982, 1984) 1st place in the Belgian Cup (1995) 2nd place in the Polish Championships (1976, 1977, 1981, 1985) 2nd place in the German Championships (1989) 2nd place in the Belgian Championships (1987, 1995) 2nd place in the Polish Cup (1984) 3rd place in the Polish Cup (1975) 4th place in the Polish Championships (1978, 1980, 1999) 4th place in the Belgian Championships (1994) 5th place in the Polish Championships (1975) 5th place in the Belgian Championships (1992) 6th place in the Polish Championships (2000) 6th place in the Belgian Championships (1993, 1997) 7th place in the Polish Championships (1986) 8th place in the Belgian Championships (1996) 8th place in the Polish Championships (1979, 1998) 9th place in the European Championships (1983) 10th place in the Polish Championships (2001) 11th place in the World Championships (1978) Semifinals of the Cup Winners' Cup (1978) Quarterfinals of the Cup Winners' Cup (1977) Promotion to the first league (1974) | ||
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| Sezon | Drużyna | ||
| 1970-1973 | Wisła Kraków (grupy młodzieżowe) | ||
| 1973-1974 | Wisła Kraków (II liga) | ||
| 1974-1986 | Wisła Kraków (I liga) | ||
| 1986-1987 | Kortrijk (Belgia, Division of Honour – ekstraklasa) | ||
| 1988-1989 | Bayer Lohhof (Niemcy, 1. Bundesliga) | ||
| 1989-1990 | Kortrijk (Belgia, Division of Honour) | ||
| 1990-1997 | Dauphines Charleroi (Belgia, Division of Honour) | ||
| 1997-2001 | Wisła Solidex Kraków (Seria A) | ||
| Assisted in the preparation of materials by service sportkrakowski.pl | |||
Lucyna Kwaśniewska, volleyball player, from Wisła, which she represented until 1986 and again from 1997 to 2001. She was born in 1960.
- In the 1970s and 1980s, she played 276 matches for the Polish senior national team and also competed for the junior national team in the 1970s.
- She debuted in an official match for Wisła at the age of 13 during the "Silver Net" tournament.
- One of many Wisła players trained by Wanda Tumidajewicz and Romana Karolczyk who went on to become outstanding volleyball players.
- In the 1981/82 season, she was selected for the best "6" of the season by the sports daily "Tempo."
- In the final two seasons of her career, she also played as a libero.
- She took a break during the 1982/83 season due to maternity leave. She has a daughter, Katarzyna, who briefly trained in volleyball and basketball in Belgium.
- Her husband, Maciej Kwaśniewski, was a Wisła track and field athlete.
- In interschool competitions, she also competed in various track and field disciplines.
- In 1985, she received a trophy from Katowice's "Sport" newspaper for 1st place in the poll for the best player of the 1984/1985 season.
- She paused during the 1987/88 season due to a waiting period.
Assisted in the preparation of materials by: sportkrakowski.pl
Kwaśniewska Ends Her Career
2001-03-31
The Wisła Kraków women’s volleyball team, after being relegated from Series A to Series B of the first league, will undergo a rejuvenation. The team’s oldest player in the Polish league, Lucyna Kwaśniewska, has decided to end her sports career.
- I’m leaving Wisła of my own accord because I suffered a serious leg injury last season and now need to undergo surgery," said Lucyna Kwaśniewska. "Besides, it’s time to end my sports career. I’m already 41 years old. I was the oldest player in the first league.
Lucyna Kwaśniewska played volleyball for 30 years. In Poland, she only represented Wisła. Additionally, she played for German and Belgian teams for 11 years. She appeared in 276 matches for the Polish national team.
Source: Gazeta Krakowska
- zobacz tutaj i tutaj
- Interview with L. Kwaśniewską. 1981 6
- 1984: Interview z Lucyną Kwaśniewską.
- 1986: „Dziennik Polski” nr 232 L. Kwaśniewska zawieszona przez GTS.
Poetry Corner
| „ | Na Lucynę K.
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| — Dariusz Zastawny, Stuletnia nasza historia, czyli Wisła Kraków, Biała Gwiazda w słów orszaku i obrazkach | ||
Press
Gazeta Krakowska. 1983, nr 248 (20 X) nr 10817
Farewell to the National Team, Hello Kasia!
— Has the shock from the European Championships passed yet? — I ask Lucyna Kwaśniewska, a volleyball player for Wisła Kraków and a member of the Polish national team. — Indeed, it was a shock for me and my teammates. We went to the European Championships in East Germany convinced that we would definitely win a bronze medal. We even dreamed of 'silver,' which would have secured us a spot at the Los Angeles Olympics. Instead, we finished in ninth place, the worst result in the history of our national women’s volleyball team at such an event. Our dreams burst like a bubble, and it was a very painful experience.
— What were the reasons for this failure? — There were several. I think we were too confident, too sure of our abilities. This cost us, especially in the first match, which, as it later turned out, was decisive for our outright failure. In the opening match, we lost to the West German team, which we had easily beaten before. We were too sure of victory.
Later, we defeated the French, but the most dramatic match for me during the European Championships was the game against Bulgaria.
We had to win 3:0 to make it to the finals.
In my planner, I wrote under that date: 'The match of my life.' Unfortunately, we only won 3:2. After losing the first set, which had already sealed our fate, we continued playing—crying. It was a strange scene: the team that won left the court in tears. I will never forget that day.
— Was our team truly capable of winning a medal? Or was it just instilled in you that you were already a European powerhouse? — It’s hard for me to answer the first question, but I think we should have at least made it to the finals. We had a pretty good team. We were well-prepared for the championships, with one caveat: we had too few tests against strong international opponents. And that would be another reason for our failure. The Germans, Bulgarians, and other teams participated in numerous tournaments, while we played sparring matches against weaker opponents. For example, in the last games before the championships, we played against Gedania and Czarni Słupsk.
— Polish male volleyball players have shown the ability to rally and win in difficult and decisive moments. However, our women’s team has often shown weak mental resilience, unable to maintain a lead or secure the decisive point, even when close to winning a set.
— That’s true, especially the younger players lost their composure in difficult, decisive moments. In my opinion, this also stemmed from the fact that we rarely played in international tournaments. The younger players lacked routine, experience, and familiarity with the atmosphere of major competitions.
— Are you satisfied with your performance? — "No, I played below my potential. A partial excuse is that I didn’t play in the league at all during the previous season due to maternity leave. Two months after giving birth, I started training with the national team. It was a very difficult period for me. I had to leave my tiny, two-month-old daughter in the care of my mother and husband while I traveled from camp to camp. I won’t hide that I was counting on a medal and on our team qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics. That’s why I made that decision. I could only truly enjoy my daughter Kasia after returning from the championships. As for assessing my performances in East Germany, the long break from league play certainly negatively affected my game. Although maybe it wasn’t that bad if the coach put me in the starting six for all the matches?"
— During the European Championships, the national team coach reportedly conducted a survey among the players, asking which of them would like to remain on the national team. Only three said yes. Were you one of them? "No, I’m also stepping away from the national team. This decision was influenced not only by our poor results at the European Championships but, above all, by my daughter Kasia. I need to devote more time to her, and I can’t afford to go on camps and training sessions anymore. I can prepare for league games, but I can no longer commit to extended trips away from home."
Interview by: Tadeusz Górski
Echo Krakowa. 1984, nr 40 (24/26 II) nr 11578
Lucyna Kwaśniewska prosi o skreślenie...
The first of four final tournaments of the women’s first league, which will determine the new Polish champion, begins in Sosnowiec. Currently, the Czarnych Słupsk team leads the table, ahead of Wisła by 1 point and Start Łódź and Płomień by 4 points. These teams will compete against each other in the "A" final.
Just before the decisive phase of the competition, not-so-good news is coming from Wisła’s camp. Not only is Lidia Pozłutko unable to play after recently undergoing surgery to remove her meniscus, but Małgorzata Tylek, who was supposed to replace her, has also decided to step away from league play. To make matters worse, Lucyna Kwaśniewska has recently submitted a written request to the club’s board asking to be removed from the roster. She has a young child and has decided to take parental leave, opting out of the tournament in Sosnowiec. It will be interesting to see if the club officials can convince this top volleyball player to change her decision. However, the atmosphere within the team and the section does not seem conducive to mobilization. We fear that, under these circumstances, the Kraków team may struggle to effectively fight for the championship title. It’s a shame, as before the season, they were the main contenders for first place.
We’ll find out the current capabilities of the weakened Wisła during the tournament in Sosnowiec.
Today, the "White Star" volleyball players will face Start, tomorrow with Czarni, and on Sunday with Płomień.
Gazeta Krakowska. 1984, nr 76 (29 III) nr 10953
LUCYNA KWAŚNIEWSKA
We Want to Play in the European Cup
— First of all, congratulations on winning the Polish Championship title. It was expected that the battle for first place in the table would be close until the end, but you finished brilliantly, not giving your rivals the slightest chance during the last final tournament in Słupsk. Did you expect such an easy victory? — I ask Lucyna Kwaśniewska, a leading volleyball player for Wisła Kraków.
"We traveled to Słupsk two days before the tournament to acclimatize, and that was a good organizational move. We were confident that we would win at least two matches in Słupsk, as that was all we needed to maintain first place in the table. In fact, the championship title was practically decided earlier—during the Kraków tournament, where we secured a two-point lead over Czarnych in the table. In Słupsk, our rivals promised a fierce rematch, but we knew they were already nervous and even shaken by their earlier failures. So we were almost certain we would beat them. And that’s exactly what happened."
— Confidence doesn’t always pay off in sports...
"The Czarnych players experienced a major shock. Before the championship ended, they were told they were the best and that first place in the table was guaranteed. Officials from Słupsk even prepared trophies with plaques engraved with the names of Czarnych players and the inscription: ‘For winning the Polish Championship.’ At the last moment, the word ‘runner-up’ was added. We only received medals, while the Słupsk team received both medals and those trophies. The local audience didn’t like this very much..."
— How did the audience in Słupsk treat you during the tournament? "We were pleasantly surprised; the cheering was respectful, and we were also applauded. The announcer, however, didn’t show much class. During the match against Start, he encouraged the fans to cheer for the Łódź team."
— It’s a tradition for champions to burn the coach’s hat or at least his tie. What did Andrzej Szymczyk lose? "Nothing, because he didn’t have a hat or a tie."
— Who was the happiest in your team about winning the championship title? "Probably Kucharczyk; it was her first gold medal. For me, it was my second championship title, so I didn’t experience it as joyfully as I did two years ago."
— Was there champagne? "Of course. After the tournament, we went to a disco and celebrated our success with champagne."
— Were you always certain you would win the championship? "No. We started the season well, but during the tournaments, we had a rough patch. I’m mainly thinking about Łódź, where we only won one match. This was largely due to several teammates being ill; we only had four fully healthy players. At that time, doubts arose about whether we could win the championship. Especially since we played almost the entire time with the same starting six. We particularly missed our setter; Pozłutko was recovering from surgery, and Tylek had quit sports. In this crucial position, Holocher stepped in and performed excellently. We owe much of this success to her."
— What’s next? What are the chances of you participating in the European Cup? "I don’t know; no decisions have been made yet. We would really like to take part in the European Cup. On one hand, it would be a chance to test ourselves against foreign teams and learn about technical innovations. The league is a bit monotonous; all the teams know each other quite well. On the other hand, it would be an opportunity for an international trip, which could be considered a reward for winning the championship."
— You mentioned stepping away from the national team? "Yes, I’ve been playing volleyball for 14 years, and I’m a bit tired. Besides, I returned to the court too soon after maternity leave, and it negatively impacted my health. I’d also like to spend more time with my child. However, I don’t know if the new national team coach will allow me to take a year off from representing the team."
Interview by: T. GÓRSKI
Gazeta Krakowska. 1985, nr 241 (14 X) nr 11428
Lucyna Kwaśniewska!
We Were Mentally Exhausted
— The Polish women’s volleyball team finished seventh at the recently concluded European Championships. Was this result reflective of your abilities? — I ask Lucyna Kwaśniewska, a volleyball player for Wisła Kraków and a multiple-time national team member.
"No, I think theoretically we were capable of achieving a better position. The match against West Germany, which we lost 1:3, directly determined that we didn’t make it to the final pool. And yet, not so long ago, in August during an international tournament in Varna, we easily and decisively defeated the same opponents. However, at the European Championships, they were better than us, even though we gave it our all, fully aware of the importance of that match. Unfortunately, nothing worked for us—neither serving nor receiving the ball."
— What contributed to the weaker performance of the Polish team? "I think it was the overly long preparations for the championships, which lasted seven months."
— I don’t understand. After such a long preparation period, you should have been in top form.
- "Physically, we were indeed in very good shape. However, we lacked freshness and were mentally exhausted. Training camps, preparation sessions, and trips to tournaments consumed seven months in total.
During this very long period, we were away from home, separated from our children, husbands, and families. Unfortunately, this had negative effects, such as stress and mental fatigue. To be honest, by the end of the preparations, we couldn’t even stand the sight of each other; we were simply fed up with one another. Every team member longed for the warmth of home. This undoubtedly affected our ability to concentrate on sports."*
"I believe that when planning preparations, all factors should be taken into account, including the psychological needs of women. In my opinion, three- to four-month training camps would have been more than enough."
— Some players also complained about the teraflex flooring? "That’s true. Teraflex is a linoleum-like surface that covered the court. It’s good to play on because it provides excellent shoe grip, but it also has its downsides. After a few matches, we experienced knee and joint pain, and there were frequent knee and joint injuries. We weren’t accustomed to this surface because it’s not yet used in Poland. However, I don’t want to blame our weaker performances on the teraflex."
— You must be tired of volleyball, at least for a while, and yet the league games will start soon. "After the championships, we have a several-day break, so I hope I can rest. Fortunately, league matches don’t require such long trips away from home."
— What’s new with the Wisła team? "I’m not very well-informed because I’m on vacation and spending my free time at home. I only know that Holocher gave birth to a baby girl, and Kucharczyk has resumed training after maternity leave."
— Thank you for the conversation.
T. GÓRSKI
Gazeta Krakowska. 1986, nr 233 (6 X) nr 11724
L. Kwaśniewska suspended
Wisła sent us the following statement: "In accordance with the decision of the club's presidium, leading volleyball player Lucyna Kwaśniewska has been suspended from her rights as a player due to indiscipline and unexcused absences from training sessions. An investigation into this matter is being conducted by the disciplinary committee of GTS Wisła."
As we have learned, Lucyna Kwaśniewska is currently abroad and plans to play for one of the clubs there.
Gazeta Krakowska. 1986, nr 261 (8/9 XI) nr 11752
Kwaśniewska Expelled from Wisła
According to GTS Wisła, the Presidium has decided to expel leading volleyball player Lucyna Kwaśniewska from the club. At the same time, Wisła’s management has requested that sports authorities impose a lifetime ban on the player. Kwaśniewska left the country as a tourist, thereby ceasing her training with the club. She is currently in Belgium, where she is attempting to obtain permission to play for one of the local clubs.
Echo Krakowa. 1989, nr 149 (1 VIII) nr 12958
What Is Lucyna Kwaśniewska Hoping For?
"If you don’t want to harm Lucyna Kwaśniewska, please hold off on publishing the article until the matter is resolved," former president of the Polish Volleyball Federation (PZPS), Tadeusz Sąsara, suggested to me a few days ago when I asked him why her lifetime ban had been lifted.
When I called Warsaw, the decision to lift the ban on this player had already been made on January 5 of this year, just before the end of the previous PZPS board’s term. The opinion of Wisła Kraków’s management, which had requested the ban in 1987, was not sought in this matter. T. Sąsara admitted that he was very keen to clear L. Kwaśniewska of what he considered absurd accusations and to help her continue her sports career abroad. He even offered his assistance.
To be honest, I only recently stumbled across a document from the Polish Volleyball Federation by chance.
At first, I didn’t give it much thought. "Well," I thought, "they wanted to enable L. Kwaśniewska to play in West Germany, where she had already obtained citizenship and was living with her family. Why dig up old wounds? Who would even care?" But recently, a bombshell dropped.
Kwaśniewska expressed a desire to return to Belgium, to Kortrijk, where she had somewhat unsuccessfully begun her international league career. However, this time she decided to sign her contract not with the West German federation, where she had the right to do so, but with...
The Central Sports Center in Warsaw. This was confirmed by a representative of the first-league club in Kortrijk, which is currently changing its sponsor and name (formerly ID Goodshopping).
Mrs. Helena Mikulec came to Poland to handle all the formalities. She revealed that she was due in Warsaw on August 3.
I immediately wanted to verify this sensational news with Wisła Kraków officials. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone competent to comment on the matter.
It turned out that director Marek Polubiński was on vacation until August 3, and both the deputy sports director Ludwik Miętta and volleyball section manager Zdzisław Gazda were also unavailable in Kraków.
Could negotiations with the Belgians be happening behind Wisła’s back? "It’s hard to believe, but anything is possible," said Wisła volleyball coach Lesław Kędryna. "I don’t know the club’s official stance on this matter. I can only assure you that the volleyball section officials, when asked for their opinion, expressed a negative stance—they were against any negotiations with Kwaśniewska. Personally, I believe that for a few thousand dollars, we shouldn’t break moral principles and pretend nothing happened. Three years ago, Lucyna left us in a difficult situation, and the team could have been relegated to the second league. I wish her all the best, but I don’t see why we should lend a helping hand. This contract is purely a business deal for L. Kwaśniewska and her future employers. Simply put, transfer costs in Poland are at least half the cost of those in West Germany. That’s the whole secret!"
It must be said that Lucyna Kwaśniewska’s boldness, along with that of her supporters, is quite irritating and prompts a reminder of facts from her not-so-distant past.
When she left for a vacation in Yugoslavia in September 1986, Lucyna Kwaśniewska had already planned to end up in Belgium. Among other things, she obtained visas for herself and her husband for that country. Of course, she didn’t inform anyone of her plans. Later, when she settled in Kortrijk, she didn’t communicate with anyone either.
The first reports about her reached Kraków from the Polish consulate in Antwerp, when she became involved in a scandal involving a forged document.
Despite an investigation lasting several months, it was never determined—unfortunately—who had provided a Wisła club form with a stamp to Belgium. On this form, manager Rick Delau and coach Daniel Tomaszewski wrote that L. Kwaśniewska was allowed to play abroad.
As a result of the forgery, the Ibisu Kortrijk team was relegated to the second league, and for a long time, L. Kwaśniewska was also suspected of committing the crime. Only after testimonies from those close to her, including clubmate Anna Lichodzijewska and translator Ewa Desment, did the prosecutor drop the case.
Evaluating Lucyna Kwaśniewska’s actions, one cannot ignore her most recent period, during which she sought sports opportunities in West Germany, relying on the help of the national team coach, Andrzej Niemczyk. For many, including former Polish national team coaches Andrzej Dulski and Jerzy Matlak, it wouldn’t be surprising if one day L. Kwaśniewska appeared in West German colors. This possibility was openly discussed in volleyball circles.
And now, after all this, the former Wisła volleyball player, as if nothing had happened, wants to sign a favorable contract in Poland, this time legally and in accordance with the rules. But why didn’t she do this three years ago? JERZY SASORSKI
Medals
 Silver medal of Polish championships 1981 |
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 Golden medal of Polish championships 1982 |
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