Kurek Reveals Dream of Ending Career at LA Olympics
Bartosz Kurek reflects on his career, mentorship of younger teammates, and his dream of ending his career at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Polish volleyball captain Bartosz Kurek opened up about his career, dealing with pressure, and his future goals in an interview on the YouTube channel "Warszawski Koks," ahead of Poland's upcoming Nations League final tournament.
Kurek, who missed selection for the national team this season, said he learned over time that failure is part of sport, crediting conversations with wiser people and books for helping him control overthinking and stay focused on the present. He said he has learned not to judge teammates after a single training session, praising Tomasz Fornal's energy and personality as vital for the team, and calling Kamil Semeniuk a model professional for how he manages his career and physical preparation.
He also discussed defining moments in his career, including back surgery nearly a decade ago, missing the 2014 World Championship roster, and a difficult period after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Looking ahead, Kurek said the Los Angeles Olympics remain his dream finale: "I'd like to. That's my dream, I won't hide it." He added that he is realistic about the challenges ahead, but that if he keeps playing over the next two years, competing for gold in Los Angeles would be "the cherry on top" of his career.
