Wacław Kuchar

Wacław Michał Kuchar (16 September 1897 – 13 February 1981) was a Polish sports champion, Olympian, and multiple football, track and field and speed skating champion of the country.

Kuchar excelled in many sports – track and field, football (firstly – as a forward, then as a midfielder, and finally at the end of his career – as a defender), skiing, speed skating and ice hockey. Even though born in Łańcut, his whole life was connected with Lwów, where he played for Pogoń Lwów – one of the most important and most popular sports clubs of interwar Poland. After finishing his career, he became a referee, coach and sports official. To this day Kuchar is regarded as an excellent example of fair play.

In 1926, in a poll held by the Polish sports daily Przegląd Sportowy, Kuchar was chosen as the athlete of the year. A year later he came in 10th in the same poll. In 1924, at the Paris Olympic Games, he played on the Poland national football team.

Club career As a 15 year old, Kuchar made his debut for Pogoń Lwów, however he was never meant to play in this match. Before the game, several players fell ill, so the coach decided to play young Kuchar. To the coaches surprise, Kuchar scored a hat-trick as Pogoń Lwów won 7–1 against Pogoń Stryj. When Kuchar was 16, him and his three brothers played a match against Cracovia II, winning 3–1 with Wacław scoring twice. Their parents were so proud of their sons all playing in the same game.

As a footballer representing Pogoń Lwów, Kuchar achieved these successes: years of career – 1912–35, won the Polish championship: 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, top scorer of Poland: 1922 (21 goals), 1926 (11 goals), In 1923, he scored 88 goals in unofficial games, 9 goals in a match against Rewera, 4 goals in 5 minutes in a match against WKS Lublin, altogether he played in 1126 games, scoring 1065 goals.

International career Kuchar earned 23 caps for the Poland national football team, scoring 5 goals. His debut came on 18 February 1921, in a 0–1 loss to Hungary. He played his last game internationally seven years later, on 27 October 1928, appearing in a 2–3 loss to Czechoslovakia. From 1947 to 1949, he also coached the Poland national team.

Athletics Wacław Kuchar was champion of Poland in: 800-meter race (1920, 1921), 110-meter hurdle race (1920), 400-meter hurdle race (1923), high jump (1921, 1923), pentathlon (1923, 1924).

Ice-skating Kuchar as an ice skater: participated in the European Speed Skating Championships for Men of 1925, 22-time Champion of Poland (Including single-distance titles) in the period 1922–29.

Military Kuchar was a captain in the Polish Army. He participated in the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1919 as well as the Polish-Soviet War of 1920; for his merits Kuchar was decorated with several medals.