Not always do the number ones in a discipline open up to their audience. That Iga Swiatek does so, especially given her introverted nature, is admirable. After winning the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Polish athlete shared some very interesting reflections on her stay in Paris and how she dealt with disappointment to turn it into joy just hours later. It’s worth reading:
“After a couple of days, I feel ready to summarize this chapter… joy, happiness, sadness, disappointment, satisfaction, hunger for more, pride, and many more emotions and thoughts… I’m still trying to put into context how valuable this experience has been for me. Perhaps in the future, I will be able to evaluate these two weeks with a broader perspective, but I already see a lot. Firstly, the huge progress I have made since Tokyo. What I can do, the opportunities I have to be a better player and a better person. However, the most important thing is everything I have experienced here. These have been very special moments that would not have been possible without my team and my family. Thank you for what you have done for me.”
“When I think about the Olympic Games and tennis, I am very proud of the image our sport has presented in Paris. So many amazing matches, inspirational stories, incredible images from the opening ceremony, where tennis had a special place. We should appreciate the fact that tennis plays such an important role in the world of sports. I am happy that my story is part of it.”
