The Department of Sport and Physical Education of the Medical University of Gdańsk manages a modern and well-developed sports infrastructure located within the MUG Sports Centre. The facilities include a full-size sports hall with spectator stands accommodating 544 people, with the possibility of increasing the seating capacity. The venue has hosted numerous prestigious sporting events, including the Polish Medical Universities Futsal Championships, matches of the Polish Handball Super League (Wybrzeże Gdańsk), the Polish Ballroom Dancing Championships, the European Judo Cup, as well as a variety of training sessions, examinations and sporting events.
About the MUG Sports Centre
The Sports Centre of the Medical University of Gdańsk includes:
- a full-size sports hall,
- an aerobics studio,
- a gym,
- a cardio room,
- a squash court,
- a gymnastics hall,
- a martial arts training room,
- two Finnish saunas.
To ensure user comfort, the facility is equipped with six fully functional changing rooms, fitted with lockable lockers and showers, providing convenience and safety when using the infrastructure.
The building is also adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities, featuring wheelchair access via a ramp and an accessible toilet designed to meet their requirements.
Barrier-free sport at the MUG
The Sports Centre of the Medical University of Gdańsk is adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities, offering wheelchair access and accessible sanitary facilities.
As part of the GUMed Bez Barier (EN. MUG without barriers) educational initiative, students may broaden their knowledge of Paralympic sports, including through dedicated presentations available on the University’s online learning platform.
History of the Department of Sport and Physical Education
In the 1946/1947 academic year, the then Rector of the Medical Academy in Gdańsk, Prof. Edward Grzegorzewski, introduced compulsory physical education classes for first-year students, known as Physical Exercises. The University authorities ensured the necessary infrastructure, teaching staff, and time allocation within the weekly timetable for student groups.
This initiative constituted the first such unit among Polish higher education institutions, forming the foundation of what later became the Department of Physical Education. Since 9th April 1974, the unit has operated under its current name: the Department of Sport and Physical Education.
The first Head of the Department was Dr Oskar Żawrocki, also known by the pseudonym Zwinny Tur (EN. Agile Aurochs). He was a Polish scouting activist, instructor of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, Deputy Commander of the Gdańsk Scouts Banner, and commander of the clandestine Scout Combat Units in Gdańsk. He is regarded as one of the heroes of the Gdańsk Banner of the Polish Scouting Association.
Dr Żawrocki was actively involved in social initiatives, including serving as the founder and long-standing President of the Gdańsk Branch of the Polish Scientific Society of Physical Culture.
Sporting achievements of the MUG students
Olympic participants:
Elżbieta Duńska-Krzesińska – Dentistry programme, former world record holder in the long jump (5.36 m, 1956). Olympic medallist: Gold Medal, Melbourne 1956; Silver Medal, Rome 1960. Uniwersjada medallist: Gold Medal, Turin 1959 – long jump; Bronze Medal, Turin 1959 – 80 m2 hurdles; Bronze Medal, Sofia 1961 – long jump.
Andrzej Salamon – Pharmacy programme, participant in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, swimming (100 m freestyle). The first Polish swimmer to break the 60-second barrier in the 100 m freestyle. Uniwersjada achievements: Silver Medal, Turin 1959 – 100 m freestyle; Silver Medal, Sofia 1961 – 100 m freestyle.
Jakub Czaja – Pharmacy programme
Participant in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, athletics (3000 m steeplechase), Silver Medallist, Beijing 2001 – 3000 m steeplechase.
Magdalena Kwaśna – Dentistry programme, participant in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, sailing.
- Andrzej Flisiuk – Polish national volleyball team representative;
- Zbigniew Gruca – M.D. programme, First Division basketball player;
- Michał Grabowski – M.D. programme, First Division basketball player, two-time Polish champion, Polish national team representative;
- Andrzej Kręglewski – M.D. programme, First Division basketball player, Polish national team representative;
- Bożena Pestka – M.D. programme, Polish national team representative in athletics (800 m);
- Andrzej Rzepecki – M.D. programme, Polish national team representative in hammer throw;
- Katarzyna Welsyng – M.D. programme, Polish national volleyball team representative (1951–1955, 42 international matches); two-time Polish champion with Gedania; silver medallist at the 1951 European Championships and 1952 World Championships;
- Ewa Lewandowska – Dentistry programme, Polish national team representative; World and European Champion in the 29er sailing class (2024); Best Youth Sailor of 2024.
- Julia Koralewska – Dietetics programme, Polish middle- and long-distance runner specialising in distance and cross-country events. Youngest Polish Senior Champion in the 10,000 m (Olkusz 2023), Silver Medallist, Polish Senior Championships – 5,000 m (Gorzów Wielkopolski 2023; Bydgoszcz 2025), Silver Medallist, Polish Championships – 10,000 m (Ustka 2024), Silver Medallist, Polish Cross-Country Championships (Bytom 2024), Silver Medallist, Polish 5 km Championships (Warsaw 2025). Personal best: 32:28.02 in the 10,000 m (XXXII Letnia Uniwersjada 2025);
- Irena Mazurek-Rajcewicz – Polish national basketball team representative, First Division;
- Krystyna Miłaszewicz-Korolewicz – First Division basketball;
- Lucyna Pieśniak-Kąpińska – First Division basketball;
- Paweł Cieśla – Medicine programme, First Division handball player;
- Zuzanna Kiełbicka – Polish national floorball team representative;
- Amelia Olszewska – Polish national fencing team representative (foil);
- Anna Doroszkiewicz – Polish Youth Champion in the 50 m breaststroke (2025). The swimmer from KS AZS AWFiS Gdańsk also won: Bronze Medal, Youth category – 100 m breaststroke; Bronze Medal, Senior category – 50 m breaststroke.
The Department of Sport and Physical Education
The Department of Sport and Physical Education
(+48) 58 349 1281
sport@gumed.edu.pl
ul. Dębowa 21
80-204 Gdańsk