Dr Karol Hibner, FITA Medical and Sport Sciences Committee’s chairman, passed away
It is with the greatest sadness that FITA has learned that Dr Karol Hibner, MD, PhD, chairman of its Medical and Sports Sciences Committee (MSSC), passed away on 28 March 2009 at the age of 72, after a long and courageous fight against cancer.
Although he knew he could not win, he was determined to fight as long as he could to give hope for future cancer patients.
His funeral will be held on 8 April in Warsaw, Poland.
Born on 19 August 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 us all 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 will be missed within FITA.
The FITA President, FITA Council, MSSC’s members—Dr Emin Ergen, acting chairman, Dr Jean-Claude Lapostolle, Dr Carlos Hermes, Ms Nancy Littke—and the entire FITA staff and family hereby express their sincere condolences to Dr Hibner’s family and friends.
