Gdynia honors top athletes of 2025 and century-old sports legends

The Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre once again hosted the 27th Gdynia sports gala, celebrating both the city’s current athletic stars and its legendary figures on the occasion of Gdynia’s 100th anniversary. This year’s event brought together top athletes, coaches, schools, and partners, highlighting the city’s thriving sports culture.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 13.01.2026, 11:13 Reading time: 3 min

Two women in sequined dresses stand beside a large trophy reading Gdynia sport on stage — fot. VBW Gdynia

In brief

Antonina Puchowska and Jakub Sordyl were named the top sporting pair of Gdynia 2025 during the 27th Gdynia Sports Gala at the Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre. Ewa Romaniuk of YKP Gdynia was chosen Coach of the Year 2025, and the VBW Gdynia women's basketball team was named team of the year with a PLN 30 thousand prize. Sporting legends including Władysław Kozakiewicz and Janusz Kupcewicz were honoured to mark the 100th anniversary of Gdynia. Rear Admiral (lower half) Professor Tomasz Szubrycht, rector-commandant of the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, accepted a distinction awarded to the Polish Naval Academy.

Antonina Puchowska and Jakub Sordyl recognized as top athletes

This year’s spotlight was on Antonina Puchowska and Jakub Sordyl, acknowledged as the city’s top athletes of 2025.

Antonina Puchowska, world and European champion in the 29er sailing class, began her sports journey in gymnastics and volleyball before discovering sailing at age eight. Jakub Sordyl, a judoka since age five, achieved multiple notable results in 2025, including a silver medal at the U-23 European Championships and gold at the Polish Senior Championships.

Both athletes received 15,000 PLN awards, recognizing their outstanding achievements and contributions to promoting sport in Gdynia.

Coach and team of the year

Ewa Romaniuk, coach at YKP Gdynia, was named coach of the year 2025. For more than 16 years, she has nurtured young talent, including Antonina Puchowska, and received 7,000 PLN in recognition of her dedication.

The team of the year award went to VBW Gdynia, Polish basketball champions. Despite financial challenges and roster changes, the team demonstrated resilience and excellence, earning 30,000 PLN in recognition.

Rising stars of Gdynia

The 2025 rising stars award (3,000 PLN each) highlighted young athletes with significant potential: Lena Adamska, Błażej Dworakowski, Wiktoria Hass, Kamil Jakubczyk, Zuzanna Lange, Lilly Nichols, Krystian Trepczyk, Linda Weiszewski, and Anna Zwara.

Sports event of the year

The 2025 sports event of the year was awarded to the Poland vs. Great Britain Davis Cup tie held in Gdynia. Despite a 1–3 defeat for the home team, the event attracted large crowds and featured stars such as Jan Zieliński, highlighting Gdynia as a growing sports hub.

Century-old Gdynia sports legends

To mark Gdynia’s centenary, the gala honored sports legends who brought international glory to the city:

Władysław Kozakiewicz (Bałtyk Gdynia) – Olympic gold, pole vault, Moscow 1980, 5.78 m world record
Tadeusz Mytnik (Flota Gdynia) – Olympic silver, team time trial cycling, Montreal 1976
Jerzy Greszkiewicz (Flota Gdynia) – Olympic bronze, running target shooting, Montreal 1976
Anna Rogowska (SKLA Sopot) – Olympic bronze, pole vault, Athens 2004
Janusz Kupcewicz (Arka Gdynia) – scored in Poland’s 3rd place match, FIFA World Cup 1982

A man in a suit hands a naval officer in dress uniform a penguin trophy against a blue backdrop

Partners and patrons of sport

The gala also celebrated partners and patrons of Gdynia sports, including the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia (AMW). The award was received by Rear Admiral Prof. Dr. Hab. Tomasz Szubrycht, rector-commander of AMW. As a partner of Daily Mare, AMW’s contribution to both academic and professional sports, including its state-of-the-art sports facilities on campus, is highly valued.

Schools and youth sports

Schools were recognized for achievements in children’s and youth competitions. In the children’s Olympics: SP 6, 37, 48; Youth Olympics: SP 6, 37, 42; High school championships: LO VI, II, and I ALO. SP 26 and XVII LO received awards for outstanding participation, demonstrating the strong foundation of sports culture in Gdynia from the earliest age.

The Gdynia sports gala 2025 highlighted that the city is a place where tradition meets modernity, nurturing both young talent and legendary athletes, supported by dedicated coaches, schools, and partners.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier