Krzysztof Ignaczak Biography
Krzysztof Ignaczak (born 15 May 1978) is a Polish former professional volleyball player. He was a member of the Poland national team in 1998–2014. A participant at the Olympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012), the 2014 World Champion, 2012 World League winner, and the 2009 European Champion.
Personal life
Krzysztof Ignaczak was born in Wałbrzych, Poland. He is married to Iwona. They have two children: a son, Sebastian, and a daughter, Dominika (who was born after the European Championship 2009). His best friend was volleyball player Arkadiusz Gołaś, who died in a tragic car accident in 2005. Since then Ignaczak played with his shirt number – 16.
Ignaczak before the match on 23 April 2010.Krzysztof Ignaczak as the *eco Resovia Rzeszów player on 25 September 2011.After winning match at Spodek in Katowice (World League 2012). In the foreground from left: Zbigniew Bartman #9, Bartosz Kurek #6, Michał Winiarski #2 and Krzysztof Ignaczak #16.Career
Clubs
With BOT Skra Bełchatów he achieved three *les of Polish Champion and won Polish Cup three times.
In 2012 after seven-year domination of PGE Skra Bełchatów, he won with *eco Resovia Rzeszów *le of Polish Champion. In next year his team and he replied this success and gained second *le of Polish Champions 2013.). In season 2013/2014 won Polish SuperCup 2013 and *eco Resovia Rzeszów, including Ignaczak, lost with PGE Skra Bełchatów in the final of Polish Championship and gained silver medal. On 29 March 2015 his team lost in final of 2014–15 CEV Champions League and achieved silver medal. In April 2015 Ignaczak won third *le of Polish Champion with *eco Resovia and sixth *le in career. On 21 September 2016 Ignaczak ended up his sporting career and announced it on media.
Despite previously having announced the end of his sporting career, he decided to sign a contract for the rest of the season with the team IBB Polonia London in the English volleyball league on 10 March 2017. His presence, as current World Champion, at the club serves to promote volleyball in Great Britain and in the world.
National team
Krzysztof was in the Polish squad when the Polish national team won the gold medal at the European Championship 2009. On 14 September 2009 he was awarded the Order of Polonia Res*uta. The Order was conferred on the following day by the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk. In 2011 he gained three medals with the Polish team – silver at the World Cup, bronze at the European Championship and bronze at the World League in Gdańsk, Poland, where he also won an award for Best Libero. On 8 July 2012 he won a gold medal at the World League 2012 in Sofia, Bulgaria. On 21 September 2014 the Polish national team, including Ignaczak, won the *le of World Champion 2014. On 27 October 2014 he received a state award granted by the Polish President Bronisław Komorowski – Officer's Cross of Polonia Res*uta for outstanding sports achievements and worldwide promotion of Poland. After the World Championship, he announced he is retiring from his career in the national team.
Honours
Clubs
- CEV Champions League
- 2014/2015 – with *eco Resovia
- CEV Cup
- 2011/2012 – with *eco Resovia
- National championships
- 2004/2005 Polish Cup, with KPS Skra Bełchatów
- 2004/2005 Polish Championship, with KPS Skra Bełchatów
- 2005/2006 Polish Cup, with BOT Skra Bełchatów
- 2005/2006 Polish Championship, with BOT Skra Bełchatów
- 2006/2007 Polish Cup, with BOT Skra Bełchatów
- 2006/2007 Polish Championship, with BOT Skra Bełchatów
- 2011/2012 Polish Championship, with *eco Resovia
- 2012/2013 Polish Championship, with *eco Resovia
- 2013/2014 Polish SuperCup, with *eco Resovia
- 2014/2015 Polish Championship, with *eco Resovia
- 2016/2017 English Cup, with IBB Polonia London
- 2016/2017 English Championship, with IBB Polonia London
Youth national team
- 1996 CEV U20 European Championship
- 1997 FIVB U21 World Championship
Individual awards
- 2010: Polish Cup – Best Receiver
- 2011: FIVB World League – Best Libero
- 2012: FIVB World League – Best Libero
- 2012: Olympic Games – Best Receiver
- 2012: Polish Cup – Best Defender
- 2015: Polish Cup – Best Defender
State awards
- 2009: Knight's Cross of Polonia Res*uta
- 2014: Officer's Cross of Polonia Res*uta
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Krzysztof Ignaczak.- Player profile at the European Volleyball Confederation
- Player profile at PlusLiga.pl (in Polish)
- Player profile at Volleybox.net
- Player profile at Olympics.com
- Player profile at Olympedia
