“I feel how valuable this experience was to me” – Swiatek reflects on Paris Olympics journey

The world No 1 claimed the bronze medal in the women’s singles event in Paris

Iga Swiatek, Paris Olympics 2024

August 7, 2024

World No 1 Iga Swiatek, of Poland, has reflected on her Paris Olympics experience, in a social media post that she posted on Tuesday.

The Pole lost in the semi-finals of the women’s singles event to eventual gold medallist Zheng Qinwen before beating beat Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, of Slovakia, to claim the bronze medal – the first tennis medal for Poland

“After a couple of days, I feel ready to sum up this chapter… Joy, happiness, sadness, disappointment, satisfaction, hunger for more, pride and so many other emotions, thoughts… I’m still figuring it out, and I feel how valuable this experience was to me,” Swiatek said in the post.

“Maybe in the future, I will assess two weeks with a bigger picture and better perspective, but I already see a lot. First of all, how much progress I’ve made since Tokyo. How much I can do, how many opportunities I have to become a better player and human. But what’s most important is how much I’ve experienced here. It was a special time that wouldn’t be possible without my team and my family. Thank you for what you did for me.

🥉🇵🇱 After a couple of days I feel ready to sum up this chapter… pic.twitter.com/8PfRVQkKyF
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) August 6, 2024

When I’m thinking about the Olympics and tennis, I’m so proud how our sport was pictured in Paris.

“Zheng Qinwen, Donna Vekic, huge congrats to you! I’m grateful I could share the Olympic podium with you two. When I’m thinking about the Olympics and tennis, I’m so proud how our sport was pictured in Paris. So many amazing matches, inspirational stories, amazing pictures from the opening ceremony where tennis players had a special place. We should appreciate that tennis plays such an important role in the world of sports. I’m happy that my story is part of it.”

Swiatek is not competing at the WTA National Bank Open in Toronto this week and is next expected to play in Cincinnati before heading to the US Open later this month.