Warsaw hosted the annual University Sports Association of Poland (AZS) Gala, honouring the most outstanding figures, teams, and achievements in Polish university sports throughout 2026.

Held at the Capitol Theatre in Warsaw, the ceremony brought together athletes, coaches, officials, university leaders, and distinguished guests from across the country. The evening opened with an artistic performance by the University of Warsaw Academic Choir. The gala offered an opportunity to celebrate Polish medalists from the World University Championships, European university events, and the standout performers of the Polish Academic Championships (AMP).

AZS President and Rector of the University of Warsaw, Prof. Alojzy Nowak, highlighted the importance of a united academic sports community, emphasising the vital cooperation with the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. He expressed optimism regarding further sponsorship partnerships that strengthen the support system for student-athletes. AZS Secretary General Dariusz Piekut also praised the consistent high performance of Polish students in national and international arenas, from grassroots initiatives to elite competitions.

Canoe sprint star Anna Puławska (AZS AWF Gorzow Wielkopolski) was named Athlete of the Year. A two-time Olympic medalist in Tokyo, Puławska continued her stellar run this season by winning world championship bronze in Poznan (K1 500m) alongside two European championship silver medals. Expressing her pride in the AZS family, she emphasised the unique balance of academic and athletic pursuits as she prepares for upcoming Olympic challenges.

The Polish national champion women’s basketball team, LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin, was awarded Sports Team of the Year. Meanwhile, the organisers of the FISU World University Futsal Championship in Warsaw, led by AZS Warsaw, received the award for Sports Event of the Year, celebrating both exceptional event management and medal-winning performances on home soil. Special acknowledgements were also extended to Polish universities that excelled at the European Universities Winter Championships.

A central moment of the evening was honoring the Polish medalists of this year’s FISU World University Championships. Polish student-athletes repeatedly reached the podium across the globe, proving their excellence in dual careers by combining high-level academic study with elite sport.

Awards were presented to medal-winning athletes and teams representing canoe sprint, cycling, weightlifting, karate and wrestling, cheerleading, men’s and women’s futsal, and sailing, as well as mind sports including bridge and chess. The coaches behind these triumphs were also formally recognized for their invaluable daily guidance and commitment.

In the national university standings, the University of Warsaw claimed 1st place in the general classification of the Polish Academic Championships (AMP), finishing ahead of Gdansk University of Technology and AGH University of Krakow. In the AMP medal table, the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice topped the rankings. 

With the 2026 celebrations concluded, AZS is already setting its sights on major international milestones ahead in 2027, notably the Winter World University Games in Changchun (China) and the Summer World University Games in the Chungcheong region (South Korea).

Congratulations are extended to AZS, the organizers, and all the award winners, with best wishes for continued success and excellence in university sports!

For more information, please see https://azs.pl/