Mateusz Rutkowski

Polish ski jumper (1986–2024)

Mateusz Rutkowski (18 April 1986 − 7 January 2024) was a Polish ski jumper.[1]

Mateusz Rutkowski
Rutkowski in 2005
Country Poland
Born(1986-04-18)18 April 1986
Skrzypne, Poland
Died7 January 2024(2024-01-07) (aged 37)
Skrzypne, Poland
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Ski clubWisła Zakopane
Personal best201.5 m (Planica, 2004)
World Cup career
Seasons2004–2005
Medal record
Men's ski jumping
Representing  Poland
World Junior Championship
Gold medal – first place 2004 Stryn Individual NH
Silver medal – second place 2004 Stryn Team NH
Updated on 26 February 2014.

Biography

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Mateusz Rutkowski was born in Skrzypne, Poland. He had a younger brother Łukasz, who is also a ski jumper.[2]

At the age of 18 he won the gold medal at the Junior World Championships. He became the first Polish representative in history to win a Gold medal at that level. Seeing his great success in 2004 one of the top senior ski jumper Adam Małysz commented that "he has great talent potential". But unfortunately, due to discipline issues, problems with Alcohol, neglecting training and then getting caught when he was driving under the influence of alcohol saw Rutkowski getting kicked out of the national team the following season. He never returned to the ski jumping after that.[3]

After that for a very long time it was not known what was happening in his life. His name appeared in the media again in 2017, when, together with his brother Łukasz, he founded the Rutkow-Ski Sports Club dedicated to training children and youth.[2]

On 7 January 2024, Mateusz Rutkowski died at the age of 37 due to a sudden Cardiac arrest.[3][4]

References

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  1. Mateusz Rutkowski at the International Ski Federation
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Mateusz Rutkowski nie żyje. Ujawniono przyczynę śmierci 37-letniego skoczka narciarskiego". Pudelek (in Polish). 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Nie żyje Mateusz Rutkowski. Polski mistrz świata miał 37 lat" [Mateusz Rutkowski is dead. The Polish world champion was 37 years old]. Sport.pl (in Polish). 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  4. "Znamy okoliczności nagłej śmierci Mateusza Rutkowskiego. Ratownicy do końca walczyli o jego życie". Super Express (Sports) (in Polish). 7 January 2024.