Bronisław Czech

Bronisław "Bronek" Czech (; 25 July 1908 – 4 June 1944) was a Polish sportsman and artist. A gifted skier, he won championships of Poland 24 times in various skiing disciplines, including Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and ski jumping. A member of the Polish national team at three consecutive Winter Olympics, he was also one of the pioneers of mountain rescue in the Tatra Mountains and a glider instructor. He was murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Biography

The 1936 Polish Winter Olympic Team. Standing from the right: Bronisław Czech, Marian Orlewicz, Michał Górski, Stanisław Karpiel, Jan Bochenek, and Andrzej Marusarz

Czech was born 25 July 1908 in Zakopane, then in Austro-Hungarian Galicia. His parents were Józef Czech and Stanisława née Namysłowska. There he attended local public school and a private gymnasium, but in the end he finished only three classes of a local wood industry school (in 1927). The same year he joined the SN PTT-1907 Klub Sportowy Kemping Zakopane. In late 1920s he moved to Warsaw, where he graduated from the Central Institute of Physical Education. This gave him the diploma of a professional gymnastics teacher and a skiing instructor.

Invalid ski jumping world record Not recognized! Crashed shortly after standing at world record distance, although judges recognized it.

Bronisław Czech in literature The Hamsa by E.S. Kraay,