News

Polish Canoe Federation is in a big shock following the death of Maciej Juhnke, the coach of the Polish national women's U23 kayak team and assistant coach of senior women’s kayak team, who passed away at the age of 49 in Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal, where he was accompanying the team at the training camp.

 

After his competitive career, Maciej Juhnke stayed in canoeing as a coach at Zawisza Bydgoszcz, where he started working in 2004. Seven years later he started his collaboration with Polish Canoe Federation and the athletes he worked with won medals at Olympic Games, European and World Championships. He was working with many top level athletes, such as Dominika Putto, Helena Wiśniewska, and Sandra Ostrowska, and was instrumental part of teams participating at the European and World Championships. He was a graduate of the Bydgoszcz Academy (now Kazimierz Wielki University) in Bydgoszcz, the Poznań University of Physical Education, and the Gdańsk Academy of Physical Education and Sport.

 

“He was an exceptional coach and a remarkable person who dedicated a tremendous amount of work and heart to the development of Polish canoeing, contributing to numerous successes on the international stage. His knowledge, commitment, and passion will remain an inspiration for all of us, and his memory will live on in each new generation of Polish kayakers,” Polish Canoe Federation wrote in their In Memoriam.

 

We would like to express sincere condolences to his family and friends. Maciej, rest in peace.