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Zbigniew Bródka

Poland

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSPOL10810198401
NOCPoland
Born08 Oct 1984 in  Glowno
GenderMen
OccupationFirefighter
LanguagesEnglish, Polish, Russian
FamilyWife Agnieszka, daughters Gabrysia and Amelia
Higher educationPhysical Education, Physiotherapy - Opole University of Technology: Poland
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 35.75 28 Feb 2015 Calgary  
    1000m 1:07.87 19 Jan 2013 Calgary  
    1500m 1:42.89 15 Nov 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    5000m 6:27.79 07 Mar 2015 Calgary  
    10000m 14:07.99 31 Oct 2021 Tomaszów Mazowiecki  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    1500m 1      
    Team Pursuit 8 Laps     1  
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    Team Pursuit     1  
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    Team Pursuit 8 Laps     1  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHis talent was spotted by his physical education teacher Mieczyslaw Szymajda, who was a skating coach. He also liked the speed of the sport.  
When and where did you begin this sport?He took up the sport in 1994 in Domaniewice, Poland.  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/Zbigniew-Brodka-297635740354672  
General Interest
General Interest
Other sportsHe has represented Poland in short track, competing at the world championships in 2006 and 2007. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Jan 2014)  
InjuriesHe tore his quadriceps muscle in 2017. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)

In December 2014 he injured the adductor longus muscle in his thigh and was unable to compete at the 2015 European Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation. (lodz.sport.pl, 31 Dec 2014; polskieradio.pl, 31 Dec 2014)

He suffered a sprained ankle in 2004. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)

A meniscus injury in his knee ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; eurosport.onet.pl, 16 Feb 2014)
 
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in the 1500m and bronze in team pursuit at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)  
Awards and honoursHe was flag bearer for Poland at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (standard.co.uk, 09 Feb 2018)

In 2014 he was presented with the Great Honourable Sport Award by the Polish Olympic Committee. (zbigniewbrodka.pl, 12 Jan 2015)

In 2014 he received the Knight's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta. (wyborcza.pl, 03 Apr 2014)
 
NicknamesZbyszek (dziennikzachodni.pl, 23 Feb 2014)  
Other informationRETIREMENT AND COMEBACK
He retired from competitive speed skating in 2019 before returning with an aim to compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "It's Beijing. I skated my first world junior championships in short track in Beijing back in 2003, so with the Olympic Games in Beijing [in 2022] I have to come back one more time." (isu.org, 13 Nov 2021; 10 Nov 2021)

CHANGING SPORTS
He made his World Cup debut in short track in 2003 in Dresden, Germany. He switched to speed skating in 2008 after a knee injury and problems with his meniscus meant he was not able to train at a sufficiently high level in short track. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; zbigniewbrodka.pl, 15 Jul 2017; polskieradio.pl, 15 Feb 2014)
 
Sporting philosophy / motto"As long as you fight, you are the winner." (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.zbigniewbrodka.pl/  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis family. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)  
Hero / IdolUS speed skater Shani Davis. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)  
MilestonesHe became the first Polish speed skater to win gold at the Olympic Winter Games when he triumphed in the 1500m at the 2014 Games in Sochi. (SportsDeskOnline, 25 Jul 2017; newsweek.pl, 15 Feb 2014)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2012/2013 World Allround Championships 500m1  
    2011/2012 World Allround Championships 500m1  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m1  
    2012/2013 World Allround Championships 1500m2  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2014 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships 500m3  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 1000m5  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps6  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1500m6  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 1500m6  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps7  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps8  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps8  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps8  
    2012/2013 World Allround Championships Allround8  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 1500m9  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships Allround9  
    2012/2013 European Championships Allround9  
    2015/2016 European Championships Allround10  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1500m10  
    2013/2014 European Championships Allround10  
    2011/2012 World Allround Championships Allround11  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m12  
    2011/2012 European Championships Allround12  
    2015/2016 World Allround Championships Allround13  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1000m13  
    2010/2011 European Championships Allround13  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m14  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1000m15  
    2009/2010 World Allround Championships Allround15  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 1500m16  
    2009/2010 European Championships Allround16  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 1500m18  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 1500m19  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps19  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1500m21  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start21  
    2010 Olympic Games 1500m27  
    2022 Olympic Games Mass Start29  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m1  
    2014/2015 Berlin Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2012/2013 Erfurt 1500m1  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2012/2013 Inzell 1500m2  
    2013/2014 Berlin 1500m2  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 1500m2  
    2016/2017 Astana Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2013/2014 Berlin Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2012/2013 Erfurt Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2015/2016 Inzell Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2012/2013 Astana 1500m3  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen 1500m3  
    2013/2014 Astana 1500m3  
    2021/2022 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Mass Start3  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m4  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall8  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall8  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m10  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m14  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m16  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m17  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m18  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m18  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m20  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps21  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m21  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification Mass Start22  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m29  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m30  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m33  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1500m35  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m34  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m39  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall44  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m47  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m48  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m51  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m51