Baszanowski possessed all of these qualities as well as one that distinguished him from the others. As a result, he established himself as one of the best weightlifters in the world. Furthermore, Waldemar amassed a portfolio of numerous national, Olympic, and world records, including numerous world records.
Where was Waldemar Baszanowski born? Ethnicity, Nationality, Family
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On April 29, 2011, Baszanowski was born. He also grew up in Grudziadz, a city in northern Poland near the Vistula River.Baszanowski was also the son of Jan Baszanowski and Elbieta Klara Pilcek.Furthermore, Baszanowski’s father was a non-commissioned officer in Poland’s 64th Artillery Regiment.
Waldemar derives his given name from the Old Germanic “valid Mari.” This translates to “well-known ruler.”This eventually proves to be correct, as he dominated the weightlifting category during his prime years. His inspiration and motivation for weightlifting are unknown.
Despite this, he had previously achieved success as a sprinter and gymnast. As a result, these two skills will be useful to him in the future.
Education
After completing his military service, Romuald enrolled in the Warsaw Academy of Physical Education in 1957. He then graduated from the Kwidzyn State Technical School.
Quick Facts
| Name | Waldemar Baszanowski |
| Birthname | Waldemar Romuald Baszanowski |
| Nickname | “Polish Hero” |
| Birthdate | August 15, 1935 |
| Day of Birth | Thursday |
| Death | April 29, 2011 |
| Age (Died at) | 75 |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Chinese Zodiac | Pig |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye color | Black |
| Skin | Fair |
| Height | 5’5″(165 cm) |
| Weight | 145 lb(66 kg) |
| Birthplace | Grudziadz, Poland |
| Parents | Jan Baszanowski Elżbieta Klara Pilcek |
| Hobbies | Camping and Boating |
| Education | State Technical School of Agricultural Mechanization (1957) Warsaw Academy of Physical Education (1961) |
| Profession | Weightlifting |
| Club | AZS Warszawa |
| Style | Split to squat and vice versa |
| Major national wins | Nine gold medals (Polish championship) & 61 records. |
| Highest world ranking | 1st |
| Major Olympic results | 1960 Rome – 5th Position 1964 Tokyo – 1st Position 1968 Mexico – 1st Position |
| Major career results | Multiple World Championships Multiple European Championship |
| Major Records | Nine times in powerlifting Eight times in the tear Seven times in the toss |
| Other career highlights | Honorary President of the Polish Weightlifting Association |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Anita (died 1969) Maria (died in the 1980s) Teresa |
| Net Worth | $5 million – $10 million (2021) |
| Merch | Postcard of Waldemar Baszanowski with original autograph |
| Last Update | September 2022 |
Is Waldemar Baszanowski Married? Relationship
Yes, the Polish athlete had three marriages and had a son, Marek, in 1963. On July 8, 1969, he was involved in a car accident in Zabostów Maly’s village. Baszanowski and his son were injured in the accident, but his first wife, Anita, was killed.
Furthermore, his second wife, Maria, died of terminal cancer in the 1980s. Baszanowski eventually married his third wife, Teresa. His ancestors are now represented by her, his first son, and his stepson.
How tall is Waldemar Baszanowski? Weight, Hair Color
Waldemar Baszanowski died at 75 years old. He stands 5 ft 5 in and is one of Poland’s most decorated weightlifters (165 cm).
Furthermore, he consistently weighed around 66kg. Nonetheless, he would transition high or low depending on the requirements of the competition.
How did Waldemar Baszanowski start his Professional Career?
After winning his first national medal, Waldemar Baszanowski never looked back. He eventually made his Olympic debut in 1960, his first international competition. He also placed fifth in the competition with a total weight gain of 370.0 kilos. However, the event was dominated by USSR rival Bushuev Victor, who weighed 397.5 kilos.
Furthermore, few could have predicted his meteoric rise to the top of his field in the coming decade.
Ascend to the top
At the 1961 European Championships in Vienna, Baszanowski surprised everyone by defeating all of the previous favorites in the 67.5s. With a total of 402.5 points, his story was dubbed “Poland’s Surprising Champion” by S&H.
In addition, his dominant performance allowed him to finish 2.5kgs ahead of Sergei Lopatin. He also finished 7.5 kilograms ahead of his long-time rival Marian Zielinski. Baszanowski also won a silver medal at the World and European Championships in 1963. But he was defeated this time by Zielinski Marian.
Marian weighed in at a whopping 417.5 kilograms. Baszanowski, on the other hand, could only gain 410 kilos.
Realizing the Olympic Dream
Baszanowski began the year 1964 with tremendous momentum. Following years of podium finishes, he prepared for the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, Baszanowski edged out Kaplunov for first place. Both gained 432.5 kilograms, but the Polish won because he was 350 grams lighter.
Furthermore, he broke the previous Olympic record in powerlifting by 25 kilograms and set a new log to beat 432.5 kilograms. Similarly, he maintained his form in 1965, winning a gold medal at the World Championships in Tehran. In addition, Baszanowski made a legendary trip to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
As a result, he won his second Olympic gold medal at the Games in Mexico.Note: After Baszanowski in 1964 and 1968, China’s Shi Zhinyong is the only weightlifter to have won this back-to-back Olympic title in the lightweight category.
Shi, a three-time world champion, competed in the Tokyo Olympics 2021 and won gold in the men’s 73 kg weightlifting event. He broke his record by lifting 364 kg.
