Piotr Gacek

Piotr Marcin Gacek (born 16 September 1978) is a former Polish volleyball player, member of the Poland men's national volleyball team in 2005–2010 and 2015–2016, 2009 European Champion, silver medallist of the 2006 World Championship, two–time Polish Champion (2009, 2010).

Personal life
Gacek was born in Grodków, Poland. Married twice, his first wife was Agata. On September 27, 2008 he married Karolina. In August 2010 his wife gave birth to their daughter Zofia.

Clubs
His first professional club was SKS Mechanik Nysa and then he played for PGE Skra Bełchatów. With the club from Bełchatów he achieved the titles of Polish Champion (2009, 2010). In 2010-2014 he played for Polish club ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. He won with this club from Kędzierzyn-Koźle the silver medal of CEV Cup 2011, silver (2011), bronze medal (2012) of Polish Championships and two Polish Cups in 2013 and 2014. In 2014 he moved to LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk. On April 19, 2015 LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk, including Gacek, achieved the Polish Cup 2015. Then he won silver medal of the Polish Championship. In May 2015 he signed a two-year contract with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk.

Gacek ended up sporting career on April 13, 2017 after last match of the 2016–17 PlusLiga at Ergo Arena. He was chosen Most Valuable Player of the match with Cerrad Czarni Radom.

National team
Piotr Gacek was in the Polish squad when the Polish national team won the gold medal of the European Championship 2009. On September 14, 2009 he was awarded Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta.

He announced his retirement from national team on June 5, 2016. On August 26, 2017, before the match Poland – Finland at the 2017 European Championship in Ergo Arena, Gdańsk, was held a brief ceremony to thank him for career in national team. He played 114 matches in Polish national team.

Sporting achievements

 * CEV Cup
 * Simple silver cup.svg 2010/2011 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle


 * National championships
 * 2007/2008 Simple gold cup.svg Polish Cup, with AZS Częstochowa
 * 2007/2008 Silver medal with cup.svg Polish Championship, with AZS Częstochowa
 * 2008/2009 Simple gold cup.svg Polish Cup, with PGE Skra Bełchatów
 * 2008/2009 Gold medal with cup.svg Polish Championship, with PGE Skra Bełchatów
 * 2009/2010 Gold medal with cup.svg Polish Championship, with PGE Skra Bełchatów
 * 2010/2011 Silver medal with cup.svg Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
 * 2012/2013 Simple gold cup.svg Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
 * 2012/2013 Silver medal with cup.svg Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
 * 2013/2014 Simple gold cup.svg Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
 * 2014/2015 Simple gold cup.svg Polish Cup, with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk
 * 2014/2015 Silver medal with cup.svg Polish Championship, with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk
 * 2015/2016 Simple gold cup.svg Polish SuperCup, with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk

Individual awards

 * 2006: Polish Championship – Best Libero
 * 2008: Polish Cup – Best Defender
 * 2009: Polish Cup – Best Receiver
 * 2013: Polish Cup – Best Receiver
 * 2015: Polish Cup – Best Receiver

State awards

 * 2006: POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg Gold Cross of Merit
 * 2009: POL Polonia Restituta Kawalerski BAR.svg Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta