Zdzisław Motyka

Zdzisław Motyka (23 January 1907 – 21 March 1969) was a Polish cross-country skier. He competed at the 1928 Winter Olympics and the 1932 Winter Olympics.[1] Motyka competed in the 18 kilometre event both times, finishing 23rd (with a time of 1:58:10) and 32nd (1:41:58). In 1932, he also competed in the 50&kilometre event, not finishing after a fall resulted in broken skis and bruises.[2]

Zdzisław Motyka

Zdzisław Motyka in 1929
Personal information
Nationality	Polish
Born	(1907-01-23)23 January 1907 Zakopane, Austria-Hungary
Died	21 March 1969(1969-03-21) (aged 62) Kraków, Poland
Sport
Sport	Cross-country skiing

Motyka studied as a carpentry apprentice, graduating from a local wood industry school in 1923. The headmaster of that school promoted skiing to the students, which Motyka took up.[2]

Motyka competed for the clubs SN PTT Zakopane (1922 to 1928), Strzelce (1929), Wisła (1930 to 1933), and Sokół (1934 to 1936). He won 7 Polish national championships in cross-country skiing: the 1930 and 1931 18 km, the 1927 and 1928 relay, and the 1929, 1930, and 1931 50&km. He competed in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1930. He maintained preparation for the skiing season by competing in long-distance track and cross-country running during the summer, finishing in the top three at national championships in running as well.[2][3]

He was awarded the Bronze Cross of Merit in 1931 "for merits in the field of sports development".[4] Motyka worked as a coach, sporting goods store manager, announcer, judge, and sports official after competing.[2][3] Stanisław Motyka, another Olympic skier, was his cousin.[2]