24 January 2010 - First Memorial Tournament in Honor of Dr Karol HIBNER

First Memorial Tournament in Honor of Dr Karol HIBNER Lausanne – 24 January 2010   The Warsaw-Mazowsze Regional Archery Federation organised the 1st Memorial Tournament in honor of Dr Karol HIBNER, MD, PhD, chairman of the FITA Medical and Sports Sciences Committee, who passed away on 28 March 2009 at the age of 72. The tournament took place on 23-24 January 2010 in Teresin, near Warsaw (Poland), following the 4th International Open Mazowsze Championships.    Born in 1936 in Warsaw, Karol HIBNER graduated from Medical Academy in 1963 and later specialised in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. From 1971 to 1977, he worked as an Orthopaedic Professor in Warsaw and Leicester (UK) hospitals. From 1977 to 2002, he was the Medical Director of the Polish branch of the US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. He retired in 2002 but continued to work as consultant for several companies.

From 1971 to 1999, Dr HIBNER was the Medical Supervisor of the Polish Archery Team and also became a member of the FITA Medical Committee as of 1971. He was President (1988-1992) and then Secretary General (1993-1997) of the Polish Archery Federation. He also organised the 1991 Archery World Championships in Krakow. He has been chairman of the Medical Committee since 1993.

Dr HIBNER was FITA Medical Delegate at the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004). He was awarded with several distinctions for his contribution to the Polish Olympic Movement. In 1995, he was decorated by the President of the Polish Republic, Lech WALESA, with a “Golden Cross of Merit” for his contribution to the development of diabetes treatment in Poland. The FITA Congress awarded him with a Gold Plaquette in 2003.

For the archery family and for FITA MSSC’s members especially, he was a real model in showing courage and determination to fight against his disease, while continuing to work hard for the committee with many medical recommendations and publications, contributing to FITA anti-doping policies and representing FITA at international sports medicine meetings. Dr HIBNER was a great chair of the MSSC and he is missed within FITA.

Guests coming from Polish and foreign archery clubs competed in this first memorial tournament. The event is expected to grow in future years.

FITA Communication