Ryszard Olszewski

Ryszard Olszewski studied geography at Nicolaus Copernicus University. While there he joined AZS Toruń, and later captained the team. Olszewski was on the Polish national team from 1953-63, earning 120 caps. He appeared at the 1960 Roma Olympics, where Poland finished seventh.

Olszewski competed four times at the European Championships – 1955, 1957, 1959, and 1961; and played at the Universiade in 1957, 1959, and 1961. In 1961 he was named Poland’s top player in the Przegląd Sportowy competition.

After he left the court, Olszewski became a referee and coach, but he also worked in investments with the Regional Directorate of Urban Investments. In Toruń he did social work and from 2002-14 was a member of the Toruń City Council, sitting on the Culture, Promotion and Tourism Board, as well as serving on the Spatial Management and Economic Initiatives Committees.

Olszewski was a founder of the NCU Alumni Association, later becoming its long-time vice-president. In 2014, he was included in the Gallery of Famous Graduates of the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the Nicolaus Copernicus University. For his contribution to the development of sport, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Medal for Outstanding Sports Achievements.

In 2020, on the 100th anniversary of Toruń’s return to free Poland, Ryszard Olszewski was one of the winners of the Contemporary Torunian 100th Anniversary award, which his son, Andrzej, accepted on his behalf at a Presidential Gala on 18 January 2020.