Sochi, Russia, April 23, 2015. 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship MVP and gold medallist Mariusz Wlazły has been named SportsMan of the Year at the SportAccord Euronews Awards Ceremony in Sochi, Russia.
The 31-year-old reached the finals after fans overwhelmingly nominated him and four other athletes from a preliminary list of 10 global sports stars. This qualified Wlazły for the final phase where he was handpicked by the Awards Commission – which comprises representatives from sport law, media and international federations – to receive the prestigious title.
Mariusz Wlazy scores final point at FIVB Volleyball Men’s Volleyball World Championship Poland 2014
FIVB Sponsorship Sales Director Mario Medeiros picked up the award on behalf of Wlazły, who spoke via live stream from Poland.
“Mariusz Wlazly supported his team and teammates and marked his name in the history of Poland making them world champions,” Medeiros said. “I would like to enforce the marvellous work of Poland and Italy last year for providing the World Championships and Mariusz who is watching from Poland. Mariusz, this is yours!”
Wlazły returned from injury ahead of the 2014 World Championship, leading the hosts to their first title in the tournament in 40 years, top scoring with 233 points in the process. He was also named Best Opposite.
The PGE Skra BELCHATOW man was one of the stars of the competition as the home side jumped the many hurdles on the way to adding a second World Championship crown to the one claimed at the 1974 edition in Mexico.
Previously Wlazły helped Poland clinch silver at the 2006 World Championship, where his team lost to Brazil in the final in Tokyo, Japan.
The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship broke records when it was held across seven cities from August 30 to September 21. Over 12,000 fans packed into the Spodek Arena in Katowice for the final starring Poland and Brazil, with tens of thousands more watching the final on big screens outside the venue.