This is the unsung hero of the Polish national team. He breathed faith in a difficult moment

After winning the first set in the bronze medal game 25:18, Poland was a bit out of control in the second set, allowing their Czech opponents to have the say. Effect? Although the Poles had a few points advantage, things got tense and the match ended 1-1 after losing the game 23-25.

Szymon Jakubiszak is the unsung hero of the national team. A key change

Coach Nikola Grbic decided to replace the mediocre Norbert Huber with another center, Szymon Jakubiszak. Effect? Brilliant, because ultimately the new player of ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle turned out to be crucial, especially at the end of the match against the Czechs in the third set. Jakubiszak added two blocks, finished with an efficiency of 78%, and scored nine points in the entire match, being the most effective volleyball player on the Polish side.

– I certainly didn’t expect there would be such a need to come in. Before this match, I thought more that we would slowly and calmly lead this match under our own control. It was a little different, a little nervous. Somewhere, it seems to me that the coach wanted to change something with this change. He let me in, Marcin Komenda trusted me and threw a few balls, I’m happy with that. It’s a very nice feeling to have a world championship medal around your neck. It’s definitely a great experience that I will never forget, I don’t know what more I can add, euphoria – concluded the center with a smile in a conversation with the spokesman of the Polish national team, Mariusz Szyszko.

For Jakubiszak, this is the first World Championship medal in his national team career.

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.

Plus the year 2022, this time a silver medal. Brazil was defeated for the third time, this time in the semi-finals, but in the game for gold in the Spodek Arena in Katowice (Poland and Slovenia host the World Cup), they lost and took the runner-up title. And the most recent story, a bronze medal – for the first time in the history of the World Championships – after winning over the Czech Republic.