Michał Dąbrowski, two-time Paralympic fencing medalist, dies at 38

The fencer was renowned for his extraordinary achievements in the sport, particularly for winning two medals at the Paralympic Games.

His death was announced by the Polish Fencing Association, just one day after he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by President Andrzej Duda for his outstanding sports achievements and contributions to the development of Paralympic sports.

Dąbrowski had been using a wheelchair since 2014, when he fell while roofing a building, resulting in a spinal cord injury.

Z wielkim smutkiem zawiadamiamy, że odszedł Michał Dąbrowski szermierz, który we wrześniu sięgnął po dwa medale Igrzysk Paralimpijskich. W paryskim Grand Palais w szabli sięgnął po srebro, natomiast w szpadzie po brąz.https://t.co/wABjnap2YU pic.twitter.com/h1nPcxh67w

— Polski Związek Szermierczy (@PZSzerm) November 13, 2024

In November 2023, he began battling intrahepatic bile duct cancer and underwent chemotherapy. Despite his illness, he successfully participated in the Paris Paralympic Games, where he won two medals in the B category - silver in sabre and bronze in épée.

He competed for the wheelchair fencing teams of Legia Warsaw and IKS Szermierka Wołomin, and in addition to his Paralympic medals, he earned titles at both the World and European Championships.

His remarkable achievements at the Paralympic Games in Paris made a lasting impact on the sport. Condolences on his passing were extended, among others, by the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism.

Z ogromnym żalem przyjęliśmy wiadomość o śmierci Michała Dąbrowskiego. Wspaniałego sportowca, który mimo ciężkiej choroby wywalczył dwa medale, srebrny i brązowy, w szermierce podczas tegorocznych XVII Letnich Igrzysk Paralimpijskich w Paryżu. pic.twitter.com/ezOj8pR4XY

— Ministerstwo Sportu i Turystyki (@SPORT_GOV_PL) November 13, 2024

Source: IAR/PAP

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Read more about him:

• Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games: Polish fencers win silver medals