Student of the Silesian University of Technology, vice-champion of Europe in sailing!
Michał Gonciarz, a 21-years old, first year civil engineering student at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, became the vice-champion of Europe in sailing in Finn class in Naples! This is his greatest achievement in his career.
111 competitors from 25 countries entered the competition in Italy in several categories. Our representative competed in the U29 youth category (under 29 years of age).
The five-day competition and participation in ten races were very demanding for the participants. Every race lasted about 90 minutes. However, the student of our University with commitment, very good sailing and a reasonable strategy achieved his best life result.
- “This success means a lot to me. This is my greatest achievement both in sports and organization because I combined preparation for the event with studies and work. Sailing is not only a sporting challenge, but also a logistical and financial challenge. Therefore, a lot of time must also be spent, among others, on acquiring sponsors or planning” – says Michał Gonciarz.
After two days of competition, Michał was 24th in the general classification and second in the U29 group.
- “The wind was blowing hard all the time. The “O” flag, which allows sailing with the wind, was displayed at almost every run except on the last day. It was very exhausting.” – explains the 21-year-old.
Michał did not get involved in pushing at the start, and later during the races he adapted well enough to the situation on the route. Finally, until the end of the race he held second position and received the silver medal of the 2025 European Championship in the U29 category. In the general classification, he placed in a high 29th position.
Michał’s success is a signal that the Polish Finn is returning to the world’s top. The Finn class is especially important for Polish sailing because it was in it that Mateusz Kusznierewicz won two Olympic medals: the gold in Atlanta 1996 and the bronze in Athens 2004. These are two of the five medals that Polish sailors and sailors have won in the Olympic Games so far. What is important, next year the European Sailing Championships will be held in Poland. Earlier, however, in September this year, Michał will compete in the World Sailing Championship, which will be held in Portugal.
It is worth adding that Michał also belongs to the sailing section of the Silesian University of Technology, which will soon take part in the Academic Silesian Championships and the Academic Polish Championships. Its supervisor is Wojciech Moskwiak. Last year, our students in the Academic Championships of Poland took third place in the classification of technical universities.
Photo by Robert Deaves
