Speedway rider Zmarzik wins Sport Award 2019 in Poland

WARSAW - The speedway world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik took the first place in the plebiscite for the Sport Person 2019 in Poland.

The contest have been organized since 1926 by the sport news paper Przeglad Sportowy and the title of the Sport Person is believed to be the most prestigious award in the Polish sport, local media reported on Sunday.

Bartosz Zmarzlik made a huge surprise to beat the footballer Robert Lewandowski, who was seen as the strong favorite. The hammer thrower Pawel Fajdek was third.

"In 2019 I did everything to achieve a success. I would like to give a thanks to my family, who help me to do my job. When I found out that I won the award, I felt like when I won the title of the world champion. It's a great honor for me that I could stand on the scene with such a great sportsman as Robert Lewandowski," commented Zmarzlik.

Bayern Munich attacker congratulated the winner. "I'm really happy that I'm able to participate in the event, in the previous years it was impossible due to my duties. I would like more and more people to play sports. I thank my wife, Bayern colleagues, teammates from the national team and coaches. I am aware of how much work is ahead of me," claimed Lewandowski on the scene.

Poland basketball team won Team of The Year award, while Witold Banka, the former minister of sport and tourism in Poland and the new president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) received The Special Award.

"We are the great sport community, as sport connect the Polish society. When we see our players on the podium, we all feel the pride. The most important for sport is to be clear. As a WADA's president I promise to do everything to defend the sport values," said Banka.