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Mieczysław Łopatka

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Mieczysław Łopatka
Personal information
Born (1939-10-10) October 10, 1939 (age 85)
Drachowo, Poland
NationalityPolish
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
Playing career1955–1976
PositionSmall forward
Coaching career1972–1994
Career history
As player:
1955–1958Kolejarz Gniezno
1958–1961Lech Poznań
1961–1972Śląsk Wrocław
1972–1975Montbrison
1975–1976Élan Chalon-sur-Saône
As coach:
1972–1975Montbrison (player-coach)
1975–1976Élan Chalon-sur-Saône (player-coach)
1976–1982Śląsk Wrocław
1985Standard Liège
1990–1994Śląsk Wrocław
Career highlights and awards
As a player

As a head coach:

FIBA Hall of Fame
Medals
Representing  Poland
Men's Basketball
EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place 1963 Poland
Bronze medal – third place 1965 Soviet Union
Bronze medal – third place 1967 Finland

Mieczysław Edwin Łopatka (born 10 October 1939) is a Polish former professional basketball player and coach. At a height of 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) tall, and a weight of 96 kg (212 lb), he played at the small forward position.

Club career

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Łopatka was a member of the FIBA European Selection, in 1969. He won 2 Polish League championships (1965, 1970), and the Polish Cup (1972). He led the Polish League in scoring 4 times (1961, 1963, 1966, 1967), and he was a two time Polish League Player of the Year (1965, 1969).

National team career

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As a member of the senior Polish national basketball team, Łopatka competed at four Summer Olympic Games (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972). He won a silver medal at EuroBasket 1963, and bronze medals at EuroBasket 1965, and EuroBasket 1967. He was a member of the FIBA World Cup All-Tournament Team, at the 1967 FIBA World Championship, and he also led the tournament in scoring.

Coaching career

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In his coaching career, Łopatka won 8 Polish League championships (1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994), and 3 Polish Cups (1977, 1980, 1992).

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