Janusz Cegliński, Olympian and Legend of Wybrzeże Gdańsk, Dies

On March 5, 2026, the world of Polish sport was plunged into mourning following the death of Janusz Cegliński, one of the greatest legends of national basketball, who died at the age of 74. The news of his passing was first reported around 10:44 AM by the Polsat Sport portal. Throughout the day, the news was confirmed and elaborated by other media outlets: Radio Gdańsk (around 11:43 AM), TVN24 (around 6:34 PM), and Interia's sports service (around 9:45 PM). Cegliński made his mark in history primarily as a player inseparably linked to the Wybrzeże Gdańsk club, for which he played the highest number of matches in all official competitions in the team's history. His loyalty to one team throughout his entire career, uncommon in today's times, made him an icon not only of sport but also of the city of Gdańsk, with which he was associated his entire life. Janusz Cegliński's national team career was exceptionally rich and encompassed the brightest moments of Polish men's basketball. The greatest achievement was undoubtedly his participation in the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. The Polish team, then considered one of the strongest in Europe, with Cegliński in the lineup, secured a high sixth place in Canada, marking a historic success. Polish men's basketball experienced its golden period in the 1960s and 70s. The successes began with the unexpected European Championship won in 1963. The culmination of this period was precisely the Montreal Games, where the Polish team, led by coaches such as Witold Zagórski, defeated, among others, Cuba and Japan, and in the decisive match for fifth place narrowly lost to Czechoslovakia. This was the last such high result for Poles on the Olympic basketball stage, and the national team of that era permanently entered the pantheon of national sport. In addition to the Olympics, Cegliński regularly represented the country in European Championships and other prestigious international tournaments. According to a summary by Polsat Sport, he played a total of 151 matches in the national colors. This impressive number, a testament not only to his high class but also to his lasting form and the trust of successive selectors, places him among the most frequently appearing players in the history of the Polish national team. After ending his active playing career, Janusz Cegliński remained connected to the sports community, though he did not seek public attention and avoided media spotlight. His death immediately triggered a wave of memories and condolences from former teammates, sports officials, and fans. He was remembered not only as an effective and reliable player, specializing in defense and long-range shots, but above all as a man of great character, modesty, and dignified demeanor. Cegliński, with his loyalty to the club, professionalism on the court, and commitment to the national team, set an example for subsequent generations of basketball players. „Jego dziedzictwo to nie tylko liczby w tabelach statystycznych, ale wzór sportowca oddanego swojej drużynie i krajowym barwom w czasach, gdy koszykówka w Polsce cieszyła się ogromną popularnością i regularnie sięgała po międzynarodowe laury.” (His legacy is not just numbers in statistical tables, but a model of an athlete devoted to his team and national colors in times when basketball in Poland enjoyed immense popularity and regularly achieved international laurels.) — The death of Janusz Cegliński symbolically closes a certain era in the history of Polish sport – an era in which the men's national basketball team was a regular fixture in the top tier of continental and global tournaments, and its stars commanded widespread admiration and respect.