Zbigniew Bródka

Reason for choosing this sport	His 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.

www.facebook.com/Zbigniew-Brodka-297635740354672

Other sports	He has represented Poland in short track, competing at the world championships in 2006 and 2007. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Jan 2014)
Injuries	He 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 achievement	Winning gold in the 1500m and bronze in team pursuit at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Awards and honours	He 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)
Nicknames	Zbyszek (dziennikzachodni.pl, 23 Feb 2014)
Other information	RETIREMENT 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)

www.zbigniewbrodka.pl/

Most influential person in career	His family. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Hero / Idol	US speed skater Shani Davis. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Milestones	He 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)