Krzysztof Ignaczak (born 15 May 1978) is a Polish former professional volleyball player. He was a member of the Poland national team from 1998 to 2014, a participant in 3 Olympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012), the 2014 World Champion, 2012 World League winner, and the 2009 European Champion.
Personal life Krzysztof Ignaczak was born in Wałbrzych, Poland. He is married to Iwona. They have two children: a son, Sebastian, and a daughter, Dominika (who was born after the European Championship 2009). His best friend was volleyball player Arkadiusz Gołaś, who died in a tragic car accident in 2005. Since then Ignaczak played with his shirt number – 16.
Career Club With BOT Skra Bełchatów he achieved three titles of Polish Champion and won Polish Cup three times.
In 2012 after seven-year domination of PGE Skra Bełchatów, he won with Asseco Resovia Rzeszów title of Polish Champion.Asseco Resovia mistrzem Polski – sport.wp.pl – 22-04-2012 In next year his team and he replied this success and gained second title of Polish Champions 2013.Asseco Resovia mistrzem Polski – plusliga.pl – 20-04-2013). In season 2013/2014 won Polish SuperCup 2013 and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów, including Ignaczak, lost with PGE Skra Bełchatów in the final of Polish Championship and gained silver medal. On 29 March 2015 his team lost in final of 2014–15 CEV Champions League and achieved silver medal.Asseco Resovia ze srebrnym medalem Ligi Mistrzów – assecoresovia.pl – 29-03-2015Three is the magic number for Russian armada from Tatarstan! – cev.eu – 29-03-2015 In April 2015 Ignaczak won third title of Polish Champion with Asseco Resovia and sixth title in career.POL M: Madhouse in Rzeszów – Resovia is new Polish champion! – worldofvolley.com – 28-04-2015 On 21 September 2016 Ignaczak ended up his sporting career and announced it on media.Ignaczak: Dziękuję Wam. Nadszedł czas pożegnania z boiskiem – przegladsportowy.pl – 21-09-2016
Despite previously having announced the end of his sporting career, he decided to sign a contract for the rest of the season with the team IBB Polonia London in the English volleyball league on 10 March 2017. His presence, as current World Champion, at the club serves to promote volleyball in Great Britain and in the world.Ignaczak at IBB Polonia London – polonia.vc – 11-03-2017
National team Krzysztof was in the Polish squad when the Polish national team won the gold medal at the European Championship 2009.2009 CEV European Championships Results – cev.eu – 03-09-2009 On 14 September 2009 he was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta.Reprezentacja siatkarzy odznaczona przez prezydenta – prezydent.pl – 15-09-2009 The Order was conferred on the following day by the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk. In 2011 he gained three medals with the Polish team – silver at the World Cup,Poland shoot up World Rankings on back of World Cup silver – fivb.org – 06-12-2011 bronze at the European Championship and bronze at the World LeagueRussia win second World League title in classic 2011 final – fivb.org – 11-07-2011 in Gdańsk, Poland, where he also won an award for Best Libero. On 8 July 2012 he won a gold medal at the World League 2012 in Sofia, Bulgaria.Poland beat USA to claim first World League title – fivb.org – 08-07-2012Poland wins historical gold at the 2012 World League – fivb.org – 08-07-2012 On 21 September 2014 the Polish national team, including Ignaczak, won the title of World Champion 2014.Poland win second World Championship title at home – fivb.org – 21-09-2014Poland put an end to the reign of Brazil – fivb.org – 21-09-2014FIVB MŚ Polska 2014: Polska ze złotym medalem – plusliga.pl – 21-09-2014 On 27 October 2014 he received a state award granted by the Polish President Bronisław Komorowski – Officer's Cross of Polonia Restituta for outstanding sports achievements and worldwide promotion of Poland."Dziękuję za chwile wzruszenia i dumy" – prezydent.pl – 27-10-2014 After the World Championship, he announced he is retiring from his career in the national team.
Honours Club CEV Champions League 2014–15 – with Asseco Resovia CEV Cup 2011–12 – with Asseco Resovia
Domestic 2004–05 Polish Cup, with KPS Skra Bełchatów 2004–05 Polish Championship, with KPS Skra Bełchatów 2005–06 Polish Cup, with BOT Skra Bełchatów 2005–06 Polish Championship, with BOT Skra Bełchatów 2006–07 Polish Cup, with BOT Skra Bełchatów 2006–07 Polish Championship, with BOT Skra Bełchatów 2011–12 Polish Championship, with Asseco Resovia 2012–13 Polish Championship, with Asseco Resovia 2013–14 Polish SuperCup, with Asseco Resovia 2014–15 Polish Championship, with Asseco Resovia 2016–17 English Cup, with IBB Polonia London 2016–17 English Championship, with IBB Polonia London
Youth national team 1996 CEV U20 European Championship 1997 FIVB U21 World Championship
Individual awards 2010: Polish Cup – Best receiver 2011: FIVB World League – Best libero 2012: FIVB World League – Best libero 2012: Olympic Games – Best receiver 2012: Polish Cup – Best defender 2015: Polish Cup – Best defender
State awards 2009: Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta 2014: Officer's Cross of Polonia RestitutaPostanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 23 października 2014 r. o nadaniu orderów i odznaczeń – isap.sejm.gov.pl – 23-10-2014
References
External links
Player profile at PlusLiga.pl Player profile at Volleybox.net