Wanda Starzyk-Tumidajewicz (English)

Z Historia Wisły

Wanda Starzyk-Tumidajewicz

Wanda Starzyk-Tumidajewicz, a volleyball player for Wisła, was born on June 29, 1929, in Biecz, and passed away on February 11, 1987, in Kraków. She is buried at Rakowicki Cemetery.

Associated with Wisła from the early 1950s, Wanda Starzyk-Tumidajewicz consistently achieved success with TS Wisła in Polish championships. From 1953, she was also a member of the Polish national team, with 27 appearances, earning bronze medals at the European and World Championships in 1955 and 1956, respectively.

After ending her playing career, she successfully trained new generations of Wisła volleyball players for many years.

In the 1960s, she also worked as the manager of Wisła's secretariat.

Echo Krakowa. 1982, No. 44 (May 13) No. 11120

A few days ago, before the first-league women’s volleyball match between Wisła and ŁKS, a ceremonial farewell was held for Wanda Tumidajewicz-Starzyk, a coach who had made significant contributions to the club from ul. Reymonta. After 32 years of representing the “White Star,” first as a player and then as a coach, Ms. Wanda decided to retire.

— Knowing your passion for volleyball, it's a bit hard to understand why you decided to resign from further work?

"I was simply tired. Not from working with the youth, but from the situation I was put in at the club. I had to fulfill several roles — coach, manager, and activist. I lacked a kindred spirit, someone who would support me psychologically every day. I feel a certain sense of unfulfillment. After all, I dedicated my best years to Wisła. I came to Krakow for studies in 1950. For several seasons I played volleyball here, competed in the league, in the national team, and after ending my sports career, I took up coaching.”

— I guess you were aware that coaching is not an easy “piece of bread,” and that working with the youth means being “in the shadows”?

"Yes, I knew that where there is a first-league team, less attention is paid to the backup. Although I didn’t think I would have to fight literally for everything — balls, sneakers, tracksuits. At the same time, I don’t regret not having coached a top league team. I was rather suited to teaching the basics of the game. So I couldn’t count on any glory. Maybe in a smaller center, my efforts would have been more appreciated?”

— You managed to train several high-class players...

"Indeed, some of my protégés are now top volleyball players in our country, national representatives, and Polish champions — Lucyna Kuśnierz-Kwaśniewska, Wiesława Chaberska-Holocher, Alina Wrzostek-Kisiel, Urszula Grzybalska-Pach, and Ewa Kowal-Pytel. Earlier, among the most well-known were Krystyna Mioduszewska-Maculewicz and Beata Buhl. Krysia Mioduszewska joined the top team after just one year of training.”

— Recently, the Polish Volleyball Association honored you with a commemorative diploma. What for?

"As stated on the diploma, for training national representative Lucyna Kuśnierz-Kwaśniewska.”

Since 1978, the Association has honored coaches with achievements in talent identification in this way. I must admit that I am a bit annoyed that my coaching activity was assessed solely based on Lucyna’s results, but since such criteria were accepted, there is nothing to be done about it.”

— Relatively few women choose to work as volleyball coaches. Does this mean that men have greater predispositions for this job?

"It varies. In the initial stages of training, when working with girls aged 10-11, it’s better if the coach is a woman. Why are more men than women working in our profession? It’s simple. It’s difficult for a woman to reconcile professional duties with home responsibilities without major sacrifices. I know from my own experience the problems that come with being a coach.”

Thank you for the conversation, Jerzy Sasorski

Echo Krakowa. 1987, No. 31 (February 13/14/15) No. 12331

On Wednesday, one of the best Polish volleyball players of the post-war period, a multiple national representative and bronze medalist from the 1956 World Championships, Wanda Tumidajewicz, passed away suddenly in Krakow. She was a “Distinguished Sports Champion.”

A graduate of the Academy of Physical Education, Wanda Tumidajewicz was closely associated with Wisła for many years. She first achieved success as a player and later as a coach, nurturing young generations of players from the club. She was an excellent specialist, a warm and kind person.

Just last week, we saw her at a volleyball tournament at the Wisła hall. On Saturday, she attended the farewell ceremony for Lidia Pozłutko, who was ending her career. After this ceremony, she suddenly collapsed and fell to the ground. An ambulance was called, and at the hospital, she was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. Despite attentive care, she suffered a second stroke on Monday, after which she lost consciousness and never regained it until her death.

This death is a painful loss not only for Wisła but for the entire Krakow sports community. We have lost a coach of flesh and blood, wholly dedicated to her work, to volleyball, a field of sport that was the passion of her life.

She passed away at the age of 58, in full strength and energy. It will be difficult to fill the void left by her departure.

Gazeta Krakowska. 1987, No. 37 (February 13) No. 11831

Wanda Tumidajewicz Has Passed Away

Polish sport has suffered a significant loss. Wanda Tumidajewicz has died at the age of 58. She was, among other things, a multiple national representative as a volleyball player for Krakow’s Wisła. In 1956, she won a bronze medal at the World Championships with our national team. For many years, she worked with youth at Wisła, nurturing several generations of volleyball players at the club. The deceased was honored with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.