Michał Bąkiewicz recalls life-threatening health crisis

Former Polish national volleyball player Michał Bąkiewicz has shared details regarding a life-threatening health crisis he faced early in his career. During the 2005–2006 period, Bąkiewicz experienced severe circulatory issues, including blue fingers and a rapid weight loss of 10 kilograms in a single month.

Following a broken tibia and subsequent surgeries, the cause of his symptoms remained undiagnosed for a period despite various medical and genetic tests. During this time, he faced the threat of career termination and the potential amputation of his arm.

A breakthrough occurred during a trip to Italy organized by coaches Ryszard Boska and Raul Lozano, where doctors finally identified an arterial embolism. After undergoing surgical intervention, Bąkiewicz recovered and continued his successful career, contributing to Poland’s silver medal at the 2006 World Championships and their European Championship title. He retired from professional play in 2014 and currently serves as the president of Skra Bełchatów.