Iga Swiatek’s journey post-French Open hasn’t exactly been the dream run her fans had hoped for. After dominating in Paris, things started to look shaky for the Polish star, with underwhelming performances at Wimbledon, the US Open, and most notably, the Paris Olympics. Despite the immense hype and expectations, Swiatek walked away with a bronze medal—a respectable achievement, but not the golden glory many had envisioned.
Criticism came fast and strong, with some questioning whether Swiatek could handle the pressure on the world stage. However, one person stands firmly by her side—her father, Tomasz Swiatek.
Tomasz engaged in an interview with Mateusz Puka, a journalist at SportoweFakty. He deliberated on several factors, including the latest performances of his daughter and her campaign at the Paris Olympics. He highlighted that while his daughter witnessed criticism for not clinching the gold, it can not be attributed to Swiatek’s skills.
Speaking in the interview, he said, “The Olympic tournament is special because it is unique and is played only every four years. The extra stress was evident not only from Iga but also from the other athletes.” Remember, Swiatek was not the only player who struggled because of the pressure of the tournament. Several top-ranked players faced similar stress, including Coco Gauff who was ousted in the third round against Donna Vekic. Continuing further, he reflected on how the pressure from the media took a toll on Swiatek’s performance.
“The pressure to win the gold medal was very high, a lot of articles were written, everyone was already hanging this medal around Iga’s neck before the tournament, and this certainly did not help. Iga is only human.” He also highlighted that the Polish star was extremely stressed throughout the tournament and was shattered after she fell short of winning the Gold.
Remember, the expectations were extremely high from Swiatek, especially because of her dominance on clay courts. She was fresh off her victory at the French Open, her third consecutive and fourth overall title in the clay-court Grand Slam, which fueled her expectations. Besides, the tournament was critical for Swiatek, especially because of her father.
In an interview with Euro Sports before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the 23-year-old revealed her motivation for the Olympics and the tournament’s significance. “Many tennis players do not intend to compete in them, but for me, it has always been the most important event. Also because of my father, who was an Olympian and competed in rowing in Seoul in 1988. Since childhood, I have heard many positive things about the Olympics from him.” For the unversed, Iga’s father also hails from an athletic background.
Tomasz Swiatek was a Polish rower and a former Olympian who has made his country proud on multiple occasions. He also competed in the men’s quadruple sculls event at the 1988 Summer Olympics, in which Poland won the “B” final and finished at the seventh spot, overall. Coming back to Iga, her love for the sport and her father were visible after her Olympic run.
When Iga Swiatek paid a heartfelt tribute to father at the Olympics
Despite being unable to clinch the gold, Iga Swiatek’s performance can not be belittled. Swiatek defeated Slovak tennis player Anna Karolína Schmiedlova in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to clinch her first Olympic medal. This was also the first time Poland received an Olympic medal in tennis. And despite the grand glory, Swiatek did not fail to acknowledge the support she has always received from her father.
Chatting in the post-match interview, Swiatek turned extremely thankful to her father for his continued support. “How much this bronze medal mean to me? It will be easier for me to answer in a few weeks because the emotions from yesterday are still there. If I were to dedicate it to anyone, it would be my dad, without a doubt. Honestly, I could dedicate everything to him.”
For now, Swiatek would look forward to returning to her dominant form and stepping back onto the court in a grand manner. Can she show her dominance yet again this season? Well, only time will tell!
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