Four male rowers in their boatMerijn Soeters
Merijn Soeters

Jakub Buczek

Biography

Jakub Buczek first represented Canada at the 2014 Commonwealth Rowing Championships. He made his world championship debut the next year as a member of the U23 men’s four that won a bronze medal. 

Buczek joined the senior national team in 2018 as a member of the men’s eight. He made his World Cup debut in Poznan, Poland where the eight made the A final. At the 2018 World Rowing Championships, he and the eight finished eighth. Buczek earned his first World Cup medal at the 2019 World Cup in Poznan, as the eight won the bronze medal. They repeated their eighth-place finish at the world championships in 2019. 

In May 2021, Buczek raced in the four at the final Olympic qualification regatta where they finished second to secure Canada’s spot in the event for Tokyo 2020. In his Olympic debut, he and his teammates finished second in the B final of the four.

Buczek rowed collegiately for Columbia University. As a member of the lightweight varsity four, he won the Lions’ first national title in any boat since 1929, taking first place at both 2014 and 2016 IRA National Championships. IN 2013, he represented his school at the Henley Royal Regatta. 

A Little More About Jakub

Getting into the Sport: Started rowing in 2009 while in high school in Wayland, Massachusetts… Drawn to the pursuit of perfection of a motion that is so simple yet so complex… Outside Interests: Enjoys videography, reading, cars, environmental sustainability reading, hiking, shower singing… Graduated from Columbia University in 2016… Odds and Ends: Grandfather Antoni Piechniczek was the head coach of the Polish National Men’s Soccer Team, leading them to a bronze medal at the 1982 FIFA World Cup… Favourite motto: “Your achievements in life are only limited by the magnitude of your drive to achieve them.”

Olympic Highlights

Games Sport Event Finish
Tokyo 2020RowingCoxless Four - Men8

Notable International Results

Olympic Games: 2020 - 8th (M4-)

World Rowing Championships: 2019 - 8th (M8+); 2018 - 8th (M8+)

World Rowing Championships (U23): 2015 - BRONZE (M4-)