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On December 4, 2023, the Polish Paralympic Committee announced the Para Athlete of the Year during the prestigious Gala Finale of Guttmann Awards. The coveted statuette, designed by Andrzej Renes, found its way to Maciej Lepiato, a Polish para-athlete specializing in the high jump.
Maciej Lepiato: Para Athlete of the Year 2023
The winner of this year’s edition, determined through online voting from November 17 to 27, was Maciej Lepiato from Poznań. The bronze and gold medalist from Rio, London, and Tokyo, received the prestigious Guttmanny statuette during the Gala Finale in Warsaw.
Other Honorees
- Coach of the Year: Andrzej Ochal
- Sports Organization of the Year: Gorzowski Związek Sportu Niepełnosprawnych “START”
- Sports Event of the Year: European Wheelchair Fencing Championships
- Team of the Year: Polish U19 Goalball Team
Special Awards
- Friend of Paralympic Sport: Corrine Klajda, CEO Accord Group Polska
- Honorary Award: Coach Jerzy Mysłakowski
- Patron of Paralympic Sport: LUX MED
- Guttmann for Olympic Sport: Polish Men’s Volleyball Team
Unique Edition
The 5th edition marks a significant milestone for the Polish Paralympic Committee, celebrating 25 years of representing disabled athletes nationally and internationally.
The Guttmanny Awards, named after neurologist Ludwig Guttmann, aim to promote para sports, challenge stereotypes, and honor outstanding achievements in the Paralympic movement