# 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.

## Career
### 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
** 2010/2011 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
* National championships
** 2007/2008 Polish Cup, with AZS Częstochowa
** 2007/2008 Polish Championship, with AZS Częstochowa
** 2008/2009 Polish Cup, with PGE Skra Bełchatów
** 2008/2009 Polish Championship, with PGE Skra Bełchatów
** 2009/2010 Polish Championship, with PGE Skra Bełchatów
** 2010/2011 Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
** 2012/2013 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
** 2012/2013 Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
** 2013/2014 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
** 2014/2015 Polish Cup, with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk
** 2014/2015 Polish Championship, with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk
** 2015/2016 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: Gold Cross of Merit
* 2009: Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta
Poland squads :
vtePoland squad – 2006 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship – Silver medal
2 Winiarski
3 Gruszka
4 Pliński
5 Zagumny
7 Grzyb
9 Żygadło
10 Wlazły
11 Kadziewicz
12 Szymański
13 Świderski
15 Gacek
17 Bąkiewicz
Coach: Lozano
vtePoland men's volleyball squad – 2009 CEV European Championship – Gold medal
1 Nowakowski
3 Gruszka
4 Pliński
5 Zagumny
6 Kurek
7 Jarosz
9 Bartman
10 Gromadowski
12 Woicki
14 Ruciak
15 Gacek
16 Ignaczak
17 Bąkiewicz
18 Możdżonek
Coach: Castellani :