“We have received sad news — Mateusz Rutkowski, former Polish ski jumper and 2004 world junior champion, has died at the age of 37. The Polish Ski Association expresses its condolences and sympathy to Mateusz's family and relatives. — The Polish Ski Association announced on the X platform.
The website Małopolska goral.info.pl describes the rescue operation that took place in the village of Skrzypne. A 37-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest. According to Fact journalists, it was supposed to be about Rutkowski. As the title says, despite resuscitation efforts, the man's life could not be saved.
Who is skier Mateusz Rutkowski?
Mateusz Rutkowski (1986-2024) was one of the most talented Polish ski jumpers. He was the first Pole to win the World Junior Champion title in February 2004 in Stryn, Norway (beating, among others, Austrian Thomas Morgenstern, Czech Antonin Heik and his peers. — Camille Stoch).
Mateusz Rutkowski during the Polish Championship – Szczerk, 2007.
During the same event, Rutkowski won the silver medal in the team starting with Kamil Stoch, Stefan Hula and Davut Kowal. He was expected to become “Małysz II”. But after the 2004/2005 season, he was excluded from the national team. The reason was educational problems. In May 2005, his driver's license was revoked for drunk driving, and he had difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. Eventually, at just 20 years old, he retired from professional sports.
Sources: “Fakt”, X, Onet
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