Andrzej Warych
“Additionally, the players you see in action nowadays are very specialized: they play almost exclusively in one position while back then in Montreal our guys were supposed to be able to do a little bit of everything. Anyway, every sport naturally goes through a process of continuous evolution and development, and volleyball is not any exception to this rule”.
Warych still feels very emotional if asked to recall those memorable moments from the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. “Well, I still feel like it happened yesterday, that attack sent into the net by our Soviet opponents, and our overwhelming happiness and emotion. I still get goose bumps”. Together with Wagner, Warych was responsible for working out combinations and other drills that literally revolutionized volleyball. “Tomasz Wojtowicz was probably one of the first players who started attacking from the back row, something which has become quite ordinary in these days”.
And what about the guys mentored by Andrea Anastasi who have claimed this year’s FIVB World League and are unanimously considered among the top contenders for the Olympic gold? “We lost to Bulgaria two days ago, quite surprisingly, but this does not compromise our chances in the tournament. This is a very long competition and I am confident we can make it to the top four and be part of the show whereby the medals will be finally assigned” says Warych. The Olympics are certainly very special to him who agrees with all other stars that were so far spotted at Earls Court in stressing out the special atmosphere surrounding the world’s largest sports event. “You can meet athletes of all other disciplines and if you have an idol, like for instance Usain Bolt or any other top star, you can cross his ways with him at the Olympic village, have lunch together, take a picture or get an autograph. This happens only and exclusively at the Olympics”.
Warych has not completely retired from volleyball as every Wednesday he enjoys playing with the staff of the Polish Volleyball Federation (PVF) and the employees of Plus, the main sponsor and partner of the PVF. “If I do not play, I still join the matches as a coach. It makes a lot of fun being part of this family since the sport has meant so much in my life”. Warych had on Thursday another good reason to be happy for since Poland routed Argentina in 3 sets to get back on track and go for a possible remake of the glorious days from Montreal. Will this dream turn into reality? Only time will disclose this secret as the final match is scheduled for August 12, the last day of action at the XXX Summer Olympiad.
All the results from Olympic matches can be found here:
Volleyball – Men Volleyball – Women
