| Wacław Kuchar | |
| Birth Date: | 16 September 1897 |
| Birth Place: | Łańcut, Poland |
| Death Place: | Warsaw, Poland |
| Position: | Forward |
| Years1: | 1912-1935 |
| Clubs1: | Pogoń Lwów |
| Caps1: | 198 |
| Goals1: | 98 |
| Totalcaps: | 198 |
| Totalgoals: | 98 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1921-1928 |
| Nationalteam1: | Poland |
| Nationalcaps1: | 23 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 5 |
Wacław Michał Kuchar (16 September 1897 – 13 February 1981) was a Polish sports champion, olympian, and multiple football, track and field and speed skating champion of the country.
Kuchar excelled in many sports – track and field, football (firstly – as a forward, then as a midfielder, and finally at the end of his career – as a defender), skiing, speed skating and ice hockey. Even though born in Łańcut, his whole life was connected with Lwów, where he played for Pogoń Lwów – one of the most important and most popular sports clubs of interwar Poland. After finishing his career, he became a referee, coach and sports official. To this day Kuchar is regarded as an excellent example of fair play.
In 1926, in a poll held by the Polish sports daily Przegląd Sportowy, Kuchar was chosen as the athlete of the year. A year later he came in 10th in the same poll. In 1924, at the Paris Olympic Games, he played on the Poland national football team.[1]
As a fifteen year old Kuchar made his debut for Pogoń Lwów, however he was never meant to play in this match. Before the game, several players fell ill, so the coach decided to play young Kuchar. To the coaches surprise, Kuchar scored a hat-trick as Pogoń Lwów won 7-1 against Pogon Stryj. When Kuchar was sixteen, him and his three brothers played a match against Cracovia II Kraków, winning 3-1 with Wacław scoring twice. Their parents were so proud of their sons all playing in the same game.[2]
As a footballer representing Pogoń Lwów, Kuchar achieved these successes:
On the Poland national football team he achieved:
Wacław Kuchar was champion of Poland in:
Kuchar as an ice skater:
Kuchar is most famous for his sports achievements, but also he was a captain in the Polish Army. He participated in the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1919 as well as the Polish-Soviet War of 1920; for his merits Kuchar was decorated with several medals.