Zbigniew Klimek from Nowogrodziec has been training in powerlifting individually for five years. Previously, he practiced bodybuilding. Since January, he has been a competitor with MKS Sudety Międzylesie and also leads the powerlifting section at the AZS Politechnika Wrocławska club. On March 2, at the Polish Senior Championships in Puławy, the most important competition of its kind in Poland, the strongman won the gold medal in the 90 kg category. He lifted a total of 760 kg (275 kg in the squat, 200 kg in the bench press and 285 kg in the deadlift). It was the best result of his career.
The 25-year-old defeated such decorated competitors as Radosław Grzechnik, Dominik Murcha and Andrzej Biegański, last year's Polish Academic Champion. “Tadeusz Hul from the Śródmieście Legnica club helped me a great deal during my final preparations,” says Zbigniew Klimek. “I believe he contributed significantly to my success,” he adds.
As he admits, winning was not easy. “My rivals lifted more than I did in the squat. During the warm-up, I suffered a calf injury and had a serious problem with this event,” the champion says. “But I made up the deficit in the barbell bench press, and I put the finishing touch on it in the deadlift,” he concludes.
This is not Zbigniew Klimek's first major achievement. In December last year, the athlete won the title of Upper Silesia and Zagłębie Champion. He has also competed three times in the Polish Academic Championships. The prestigious competition in Puławy was a test of the national strongmen team's capabilities ahead of the European Championships. Unfortunately, despite his spectacular success, the athlete from our county will not take part in the European competition. “For the second time, the Polish national team selector has left out the weight category in which I compete,” admits Zbigniew Klimek.
What are his plans for the future? “My dream is to make the national team,” says the champion. – “I know what I am still capable of, and I know that I can improve my result.” Next week, the gold medalist will begin preparing for the next Polish Academic Championships, which will take place at the end of April. “I hope the selector will recognize my potential,” he adds.
(GA report)