Wilfredo Leon returns to Lublin training after European volleyball title

Return to club training

Bogdanka LUK Lublin confirmed on 7 October that outside hitter Wilfredo Leon returned to team practice ahead of the new league season. The club marked the announcement on Wednesday afternoon by publishing an Instagram video clip featuring the 33-year-old player with music from Dua Lipa under the title "King is back". Head coach Stephane Antiga granted the Cuban-born Polish international an extended rest period compared to his national team colleagues. Polish squad teammates Marcin Komenda and Kewin Sasak resumed their training at Hala Globus on 6 October, whereas Leon received additional recovery days. Leon spent the majority of his break abroad, fishing from a boat and playing tennis, before returning to his residence in Lublin.

European gold and recovery program

Leon played a central role in Poland defending its European Championship title, which concluded on 26 September. The performance earned him the tournament Most Valuable Player award for the second consecutive edition, as well as the top outside hitter selection. Across the competition, Leon scored 73 total points and delivered 11 service aces despite dealing with recurring pain in his knee joint. National team coach Nikola Grbic managed his minutes by rotating with Kamil Semeniuk, keeping Leon on the bench for the entire match against Bulgaria. During the semifinal victory over Slovenia, medical staff applied an ice pack to his knee, which necessitated a specialized physical recovery regimen after the final.

My fingers, knees and hip still hurt, but we were here to win this medal. Now I will rest, and I hope recovery will take a week or ten days.

Congratulatory letters from neighbors

Upon arriving at his apartment building in Lublin, Leon found multiple handwritten letters and notes taped to his door and staircase walls by residents. A similar welcome occurred earlier in the season when he returned from China after Poland secured the Nations League gold medal. One message from residents of staircase four thanked Leon, the coaching staff, and the squad for their performances, wishing the team sustained form through to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Another neighbor noted that watching the matches caused more anxiety than a mathematics exam, while additional notes simply offered congratulations for finishing in first place. Leon published photos of the messages on his Instagram account to thank the residents.

Preparations for league opener

With his return to the sports hall, Leon faces a short period to build chemistry with several new teammates, including Japanese internationals Ran Takahashi and Tomohiro Ogawa. Bogdanka LUK Lublin enters the final stage of its pre-season calendar with the Bogdanka Volley Cup friendly tournament. The club officially opens its domestic season on 18 October at 15:00 in an away match against ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle. Coach Antiga now has all three of the club's European champions back on the court for final tactical preparations.