Bartosz Kurek started the “eighteen”. There's only one scalp left to claim

We didn't see Bartosz Kurek during the first Nations League tournament in Antalya, Turkey. One of the most experienced volleyball players of the Polish national team received more time for regeneration. He is such an important player for the team that Nikola Grbic decided to spare him. During the second week of the Nations League in Japan, we already see the team captain. A symbolic moment took place in the match against Bulgaria, as Kurek officially began his eighteenth season of playing in national colors. Such long-term experience in the national team is not common.

A cock with an “eighteen” and one goal

The player, loved by many fans, made his debut in the Polish national team in 2007. Two years later, he celebrated a great success with the team in the form of a triumph at the European Championships. Fourteen years later, he repeated this feat and is the only Polish volleyball player in history to win gold twice at the European championships. As for this event, he was on the lowest step of the podium twice with the team.

There were, of course, other successes in the meantime. Leading by gold and silver in the world championships. In 2014, Kurek participated in the national team season, but did not take part in the victorious World Cup.

Last season, Kurek won the Nations League with the national team, and eleven years earlier the World League. In these events, he also won a silver and two bronze medals. In addition, there are three World Cup medals (two silver and a bronze). The Olympic Games puck is missing from the display case. He participated in the most important event for athletes three times, and if no disaster occurs, he will also perform in Paris at the turn of July and August. It seems that he will accept any medal with open arms, but he probably realizes that the chance for gold is high.

Solid performance by Kurek against Bulgaria

In Tuesday's Nations League match, the Polish national team defeated the Bulgarians 3-1. After the first unsuccessful set, our team's play later improved. The captain of the Polish national team scored 10 points in his first match this year, including 9 from attack and one from blocking. He attacked with an efficiency of 42 percent (9/22).