Ryszard Szurkowski

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRyszard Jan•Szurkowski
Used nameRyszard•Szurkowski
Born12 January 1946 in Świebodów, Dolnośląskie (POL)
Died1 February 2021 in Radom, Mazowieckie (POL)
Measurements173 cm / 75 kg
AffiliationsCzarnych Radomsko/Dolmelu Wroclaw
NOC Poland
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 2
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

A road racer who helped Poland win team time trial silver medals at both the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, Ryszard Szurkowski was considered the most titled Polish cyclist ever. He won four medals at the World Championships, highlighted by winning the individual road race in 1973, and following that in 1974 with a silver medal. He also helped Poland win the team time trial at the Worlds in 1973 and 1975.

Szurkowski won the Peace Race four times, in 1970-71, 1973, and 1975. He also triumphed at the famous Polish race, the Dookoła Mazowsza, in 1977-78. He was approached by Western European professional teams, including Molteni, led by the renowned Eddy Merckx, but in the Soviet-dominated era, Szurkowski could not ride professionally.

Ryszard Szurkowski managed the Polish national team from 1984-88, leading his protégé, Lech Piasecki, to a Peace Race title and a World Championship, both in 1985, and helping Poland win silver at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in the team time trial. Szurkowski founded the first professional cycling group in Poland, Exbud, in 1988, directed the Peace Race, and was President of the Polish Cycling Association in 2010-11. At the end of the 20th century he was voted the second greatest Polish athlete, after track star Irena Szewińska. For his many triumphs, he was given several state decorations, including the Commander’s Cross with the Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

In 2018, while riding in a senior race in Germany, Szurkowski crashed and was left paralyzed from the waist down. On his 75th birthday, in January 2021, when asked what he wanted, he wished for “My first independent step. And to return to my bicycle, even a three-wheeled one.” Sadly, it was not to be, as Szurkowski died a few weeks later.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1972 Summer Olympics Cycling Road (Cycling) POL Ryszard Szurkowski
Road Race, Individual, Men (Olympic) 31
100 kilometres Team Time Trial, Men (Olympic) Poland 2 Silver
1976 Summer Olympics Cycling Road (Cycling) POL Ryszard Szurkowski
Road Race, Individual, Men (Olympic) 12
100 kilometres Team Time Trial, Men (Olympic) Poland 2 Silver