Sławomir Szmal
Polish handball player (born 1978)
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Sławomir Szmal (born 2 October 1978) is a former Polish handball player, who played for the Poland men's national handball team, a participant in the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, and a medalist in the World Championship (silver in 2007, bronzes in 2009, 2015). Szmal is currently he is the president of the Polish Handball Association.
Strzelce Opolskie, Poland
| Sławomir Szmal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born |
2 October 1978 Strzelce Opolskie, Poland | ||
| Nationality | Polish | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | PGE Vive Kielce (GK Coach) | ||
| Senior clubs | |||
| Years | Team | ||
1996–1997 | Gwardia Opole | ||
1997–1999 | Huntnik Kraków | ||
1999–2002 | KS Warszawianka | ||
2002–2003 | Wisła Płock | ||
2003–2005 | TuS Nettelstedt-Lübbecke | ||
2005–2010 | Rhein-Neckar Löwen | ||
2010–2018 | Vive Kielce | ||
| National team | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–2016 | Poland | 298 | (3) |
| Teams managed | |||
2018– | PGE Vive Kielce (GK Coach) | ||
2019– | Poland (GK Coach) | ||
Medal record | |||
In 2009 he was named the IHF World Player of the Year.[1]
Career
National team
On 19 August 1998, he debuted for the national team in a match against Lithuania (31:20). On 4 February 2007, he won a silver medal at the World Championship, after losing the final match with Germany (24:29). For his sport achievements he received the Gold Cross of Merit in 2007.
He won a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championship. In 2009, Szmal was voted IHF World Player of the Year, while Igor Vori came 2nd and Nikola Karabatić came 3rd.[1]
On 1 February 2015, Poland, including Szmal, won the bronze medal at the 2015 World Championship. They won the bronze medal match (29:28) against Spain.[2][3]
Personal life
Szmal was born in Strzelce Opolskie, Poland. He is married to Aneta, who is a former handball player. They have a son named Filip.
