With 33-year-old Edward Skorek as its captain, the Polish national team won a gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games by defeating Russia in five sets. 

Skorek helped Poland rally from a 2-1 set deficit and 14-15 score in the third set against Russia. The Russian team had not lost a single set in the 1976 Olympics until the championship match. 

Skorek played 12 years for Poland with more than 275 world-class competitions after the conclusion of the 1976 Olympics. All together, he competed in four Olympics for Poland starting at the age of 21. He also ignited Poland to the 1974 World Championship title. 

Known as "the great bomber" by his countrymen for his cross-court shots and straight-down spikes, Skorek went on to compete in the International Volleyball Association, a fledgling professional volleyball league in the United States, in 1977.