It is easy to see why people look up to Leszek Kucharski. And that's not just because he's 6'4" tall (or 193 cm, to our international readers). Born in 1959 Poland, Kucharski went on to become one of the finest table tennis players of the 1980s. He medaled in every World Championships from 1985 to 1989. Poland won the Men's Team bronze in 1985. In 1987, Kucharski partnered with his late, great teammate Andrzej Grubba to win bronze in Men's Doubles. Two years later, Kucharski struck silver in Men's Doubles. Partnered with Serbia's Zoran Kalinić, who stands 6'5" tall, they were likely the tallest doubles team ever to medal in an international tournament. While Kucharski clearly plays well with others, he was also perfectly capable of winning titles on his own, as his two English Open championships will attest. With such a resplendent résumé, it is no surprise that Kucharski's services would be in demand long after his competitive playing days were over. This week in Wladyslawowo, Poland, his vast experience and knowledge will indeed be put to good use. Preparatory to the 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge beginning this Saturday, October 26, Kucharski is running a three-day training camp for the 68 talented youngsters playing in the prestigious tournament. While the kids might initially be in awe of Kucharski's height, they will no doubt leave even more impressed with his stature.

More at ITTF