Nikola Grbić and Bartosz Kurek through the eyes of an expert. This demonstrates the strength of the national team.

Last weekend, we published a comprehensive interview with Matylda Olek-Stępień , a renowned sports psychologist. The publication received positive feedback, and the conversation touched on many interesting topics. Among the most important were issues directly related to volleyball and the Polish men's national team.

Bartosz Kurek and Nikola Grbić are the powerhouses of the Polish national team. These are binding words.

Nikola Grbić has been the coach of the Polish volleyball team since 2022. The Serbian coach of the Polish team brings home a medal with his team from every major event.

"What really catches my attention are the statements made by coach Nikola Grbić. I remember that even at the beginning of his tenure as Poland's coach, one quote particularly caught my attention. The Serb said he joined the Polish national team to become an Olympic champion as a coach. But if I had focused on that goal, rather than the process and the path leading to it, I think we would never have become Olympic medalists. Focusing on the path, on the process leading to the goal, is precisely what can further develop a person. And it can bring joy and satisfaction. I have the impression that this is precisely how the Polish national volleyball team is led. It was similar under Grbić's leadership during his time at ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. That is, focusing on the tasks, every single ball, the match, and victory on the way to something truly great at the end of the road," admitted Olek-Stępień in an interview with WPROST.

Additionally, the sports psychologist with many years of experience also highlighted the captain of the Polish national volleyball team, Bartosz Kurek. A man who has already won a lot in his career.

"Personally, I'm very impressed with Bartosz Kurek. In the context of a conscious athlete, for example, in terms of shaping the Polish national team's leadership for the coming years. Kurek openly talks about this. He's the team captain, but he's also there to ensure his successors emerge. People who will lead the team when Kurek is no longer with the team, for whatever reason," the sports psychologist commented.

It's worth noting that Polish volleyball players won two medals during the 2025 season: gold in the Nations League and bronze at the World Championships.

Men's Volleyball World Championships: Sixth medal for the Polish national team in history

The bronze medals won at the 2025 World Championships in the Philippines marked the sixth time Polish volleyball players have reached the podium at such an event. Interestingly, Polish volleyball has achieved its greatest success in the 21st century. In modern times, Poles have won five of the six medals in the all-time rankings.

It all began with coach Hubert Wagner's legendary team, which became world champions at the 1974 World Championships in Mexico. The golden "Kata" team repeated its dominance two years later (1976) at the Olympic tournament in Montreal. But that's a story for another, longer tale.

The Polish volleyball team's record of World Championship medals dates back to 2006. Back then, at a tournament held in Japan, Poland claimed silver. Since then, Poland has only missed the podium once(!) at the Men's Volleyball World Championships. That happened in 2010, at an event in Italy.

In 2014 and 2018, Poland became world champions, first winning the event in stunning style on home soil – at the National Stadium in Warsaw, the Centennial Hall in Wrocław, the Atlas Arena in Łódź, and finally at the Spodek Arena in Katowice – with a gold medal-winning final against Brazil. Four years later (2018), the team defended their title in a tournament held in Italy and Bulgaria, again after winning the final against Brazil.

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