Jerzy Pławczyk
Encyclopedia
Jerzy Pławczyk was a Polish
athlete who competed at 1932
and 1936 Summer Olympics
. In 1932 in Los Angeles
, he competed in the men's high jump event
, where he placed joint-seventh out of fourteen competitors with a top height of 1.90m. In 1936 in Berlin
he placed twenty-second and last in the same event
with a height of 1.80m. He also finished ninth out of twenty-eight competitors in the decathlon
event and set his personal best score. He was born in Dąbrowa Górnicza
and was a member of the AZS Warszawa club.
A 1932 graduate of the Central Institute of Physical Education in Warsaw
, that same year Pławczyk became the European champion in the high jump with a height of 1.96m, having already been a three-time national record holder in the event. He won a bronze medal in the decathlon
event at the 1934 European Athletics Championships in Turin
, and placed sixth in the same event at the 1938 European Athletics Championships in Vienna
. He was a national champion on numerous occasions in the 1930s. In 1938, he moved to France
and joined the army
in 1940. From 1943 through 1948 he worked as a sports instructor in Vichy
, Paris
, and Rome
, later working as a salesman and teacher, before returning to Poland.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
athlete who competed at 1932
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
and 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
. In 1932 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, he competed in the men's high jump event
Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics – Men's high jump
The men's high jump event at the 1932 Olympic Games took place July 31. It was a final only format, no heats or qualifying jumps.-Final standings:-References:*, from http://www.sports-reference.com/; retrieved 2010-04-03....
, where he placed joint-seventh out of fourteen competitors with a top height of 1.90m. In 1936 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
he placed twenty-second and last in the same event
Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's high jump
The men's high jump event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1936 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on August 2, 1936. The final was won by American Cornelius Johnson.-Final:Key: OR = Olympic record-References:...
with a height of 1.80m. He also finished ninth out of twenty-eight competitors in the decathlon
Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon
The men's decathlon event at the 1936 Olympic Games took place between August 7 & August 8.-Final standings:Key: DNF = Did not finish, WR = World record-References:*, from http://www.sports-reference.com/; retrieved 2010-05-15....
event and set his personal best score. He was born in Dąbrowa Górnicza
Dabrowa Górnicza
Dąbrowa Górnicza is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, nearby Katowice. The north-east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of almost 3 millions...
and was a member of the AZS Warszawa club.
A 1932 graduate of the Central Institute of Physical Education in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, that same year Pławczyk became the European champion in the high jump with a height of 1.96m, having already been a three-time national record holder in the event. He won a bronze medal in the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
event at the 1934 European Athletics Championships in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, and placed sixth in the same event at the 1938 European Athletics Championships in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He was a national champion on numerous occasions in the 1930s. In 1938, he moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and joined the army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
in 1940. From 1943 through 1948 he worked as a sports instructor in Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, later working as a salesman and teacher, before returning to Poland.