Stanisław Szozda (25 September 1950 – 23 September 2013) was an elite Polish cyclist. He had his best achievements in the 100 km team time trial. In this event he won two silver medals at the
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...
and
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Montreal 1976 (), were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal ...
,
[ as well as two gold and two bronze medals at the world championships in 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1977. He was less successful in the individual road race, finishing in 76th and 11th place at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, respectively, and winning a silver medal at the 1973 UCI Road World Championships.][
At the age of 9, Szozda moved to ]Prudnik
Prudnik (, , , ) is a town in southern Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship near the border with the Czech Republic. It is the administrative seat of Prudnik County and Gmina Prudnik. Its population numbers 21,368 inhabitant ...
with his family. Here he graduated from primary school (1964) and agricultural engineering (1969). He took his first cycling steps in Zarzewie Prudnik (1967–1970) under the supervision of Franciszek Surmiński.PRUDNIK: NIE ŻYJE STANISŁAW SZOZDA
tygodnikprudnicki.pl
In 1974, he won the Tour de Bretagne Cycliste, both individually and in the team competition. He also won the Tour de Pologne
The Tour de Pologne (; ), officially abbreviated TdP, is an annual, professional men's Race stage, multiple-stage cycle sport, bicycle race primarily held in Poland. It consists of seven or eight stages and is usually around 1,200 km ...
in 1971, Tour of Algeria in 1973, Peace Race
The Peace Race (, , , (), , , , ) is a cycling race that was established as the largest event in Eastern Europe after the Second World War. Since 2013, it has been run as one of the most prestigious stage races for national U23 teams.
Histo ...
in 1974, and Tour of Małopolska
Tour of Malopolska ( Polish: ''Małopolski Wyścig Górski'') is an annual, professional men's multiple-stage cycling race in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Since 2005, it has been part of the UCI Europe Tour.
History
The race was first held in 196 ...
in 1976. He finished second in the Peace Race
The Peace Race (, , , (), , , , ) is a cycling race that was established as the largest event in Eastern Europe after the Second World War. Since 2013, it has been run as one of the most prestigious stage races for national U23 teams.
Histo ...
in 1976 and first in 1973 with the Polish team.[
He suffered a career-ending spinal injury after a fall during the 1978 Peace Race.
After retiring from competitions he worked as a trainer in the United States with Eddie Borysewicz, and after returning to Poland did not follow the traditional route of becoming a cycling coach. He was married to Grażyna Szozda; they have a daughter Natalia and a son Radosław. Szozda was awarded the ]Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...
.[
]
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Szozda, Stanislaw
1950 births
2013 deaths
People from Świdnica County
Cyclists at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Cyclists at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Olympic cyclists for Poland
Polish male cyclists
Olympic silver medalists for Poland
Olympic medalists in cycling
Cyclists from Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics
UCI Road World Champions (elite men)
20th-century Polish sportsmen