Former Olympic Bronze Medallist Bochenek died at age 80
Polish weightlifter Jan Bochenek who competed in Garrison WKS Lodz (1951-1959) and Legia Warsaw (1960-1962), where his coach was Joseph Styczyński died at the age of 80.
Multible European and World Championships medalist, he won the third place at the 1960 Olympic Games. Five times Polish Champion Bochenek set up 18 national records in total. He had his most dramatic contest for a medal in Melbourne Olympics in 1956, where he took 4th place in the middleweight class loosing the bronze because he was heavier than his Italian rival by 40 decagrams.
Jan Bochenek became a the first class coach working for the Polish National Team at many World Championships and at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988.He was Master of Sport (1960), twice decorated Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Sports, Golden Cross of Merit (1960) and the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polish Rebirth (1988). He was a lieutenant colonel in the Polish Army.
Jan Bochenek was a quiet, likeable and good-natured man, died after a serious illness.
The IWF offers its deep condolences to his family and the Polish Weightlifting Federation!
