Nikola Grbic and Bartosz Kurek through the eyes of an expert. This shows the power of representation

Last weekend, we published a large interview with Matylda Olek-Stępień, a renowned player in the field of sports psychology. The publication received a positive response, and the conversation itself touched upon many interesting topics. One of the most important were issues directly related to volleyball and the Polish men’s national team.

Bartosz Kurek and Nikola Grbic are the strengths of the Polish national team. These are binding words

Nikola Grbic has been the coach of Polish volleyball players since 2022. The Serbian coach of the Poles brings a medal with his team from every important event.

– What attracts my attention are the statements of coach Nikola Grbic. I remember that at the beginning of his work as the Polish coach, one quote particularly interested me. The Serb said that he came to the Polish national team to become an Olympic champion as a coach. But if I had focused on this goal, and not on the process and the path that would lead to it, I think we would never have become Olympic medalists. Focusing on the path, on the process leading to the goal, is what can further develop a person. And enjoy, give satisfaction. I have the impression that this is the way the Polish national volleyball team is run. Previously, it was similar under the baton of Grbic when he worked for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. That is, focusing on the tasks, every single ball, match and victory on the way to something really great at the end – admitted Olek-Stępień in an interview for WPROST.

Additionally, a sports psychologist with many years of experience also drew attention to the captain of the Polish national volleyball team, Bartosz Kurek. A man who has already won a lot in his career.

– Personally, I am very impressed by Bartosz Kurek. In such a context of a conscious athlete, at least the thread of creating leaders of the Polish national team for the coming years. Kurek talks about it openly. That he is the captain of the team, but he is also in this group so that his successors appear. People who will lead the team when Kurek is no longer in the team, for any reason, said the sports psychologist.

It is worth adding that Polish volleyball players won two medals during the 2025 season. Gold in the Nations League and bronze in the World Championships.

Men’s Volleyball World Championships: The sixth medal for the Polish national team in history

The bronze medals won in the 2025 World Championships in the Philippines are the sixth time that Polish volleyball players have been on the podium in an event of this type. Interestingly, Polish volleyball achieved most of its successes in the 21st century. In modern times, Poles have won as many as five out of six medals, if you look at the all-time rankings.

However, it started with the legendary team of coach Hubert Wagner, which became world champions during the 1974 World Championships in Mexico. The golden “Kata” team repeated its dominance two years later (1976), during the Olympic tournament in Montreal. But that’s a story for a completely different, longer story.

Polish volleyball players have won consecutive World Championship medals since 2006. Then, during the tournament held in Japan, Poles won silver medals. Since that event, only once (!) has Poland failed to find its place on the podium of the Men’s Volleyball World Championships. It took place in 2010, during an event in Italy.

In 2014 and 2018, Poles became world champions, first winning the event in great style on their home soil – through the National Stadium in Warsaw, the Centennial Hall in Wrocław, the Atlas Arena in Łódź, to the Spodek in Katowice – and winning the final for gold against Brazil. Four years later (2018), the team defended the title in the tournament held in Italy and Bulgaria, again after winning the final against the Brazilians.