Is Maria Andrejczyk the Guillermo Ochoa of Poland?

Maria Andrejczyk was not a favourite to win at this time’s shot put competitors. After all, even a possible medal for the Pole could possibly be handled as a shock – in spite of everything, she hasn’t competed lately or been in good condition . Nonetheless, if the 28-year-old has grow to be well-known for something in her profession, it’s within the Olympic 12 months that she’s going to be capable to be reborn like a phoenix from the ashes and all of a sudden return to throwing on a world scale. Nonetheless, we didn’t expertise this in Rome. Nonetheless, the one that worries herself, who occurred 10 at this time, isn’t horrible about it. – I am not going to cry as a result of I am glad I obtained again to throwing and I am right here. It isn’t cool that I am solely the tenth competitor within the European Championship, however the season continues. I nonetheless have an vital begin forward of me, so I’ve to make selections and preserve working – she stated after the competitors.

ANDREJCZYK GUILLERMO OCHOA

I do not suppose anybody who’s taken with soccer must be advised who Guillermo Ochoa is. The Poles obtained to know this man firsthand on the World Cup in Qatar, when black-haired Mexico saved Robert Lewandowski’s penalty kick header. Throughout his profession, Ochoa grew to become well-known for maybe not being utterly profitable within the golf equipment he performed for. However when the time of the World Cup got here and Guillermo placed on the shirt of the nationwide group, he all of a sudden turned from a median participant right into a goalkeeper’s cat. He was the chief of the entire group and one in all his greatest heroes.

What if I advised you that in Poland now we have the identical sport as a Mexican goalkeeper?

The entire nation heard about Maria Andrejczyk for the primary time in 2016. Then the 20-year-old athlete shone within the qualification rounds for the ultimate of the Olympic javelin throwing competitors, the place she jumped as a lot as 67.11 m – the farthest among the many total group. In flip, in the primary competitors, she threw the javelin at 64.78 m, and it was simply 3 centimeters away from the bronze medal.

Maria’s following years have been a sequence of misfortunes, accidents and, because of this, she was more and more unwilling to coach. The athlete discovered herself in such a foul place that she even grew to become depressed and thought of ending her profession. Then all of a sudden 2020 got here and the Falcon returned to type. And when the Olympics have been postponed till subsequent season … Andrejczyk’s throw was even higher. She then achieved a results of 71.40 m, which elevated the variety of opponents who have been capable of throw the javelin past seventy meters to 5. In reality – we’re speaking a couple of mannequin that has been used since 1999, as a result of the older peaks flew for much longer.

Maria completed 2021 with a silver medal on the Olympic Video games. After which she disappeared once more. She modified coaches. After fourteen years, she stated goodbye to Karol Sikorski and determined to collaborate with Petteri Piironen. Sadly, this transfer was a deadly mistake, and Finn’s strategies didn’t work on the Polish rival. As well as, athletes suffered from accidents – particularly on the shoulder, the primary a part of the physique for lengthy throws.

All of this led to horrible aggressive outcomes. The one girl who threw the javelin over 70 meters couldn’t throw greater than 60 meters for 3 (!) years.

So, final October, Andrejczyk modified her coach once more, this time Cezary Wojna. He had no simple activity forward of him, as a result of he needed to carry his new athlete into the most effective situation in lower than a 12 months till the Olympic Video games in Paris.

Did it work? That is actually not Andrejczyk’s highest mark but, however this 12 months the hawk has already thrown 62.72. Nonetheless, this end result is an indication that the coaching goes in the suitable course.

“I really feel good by myself”

Yesterday in Rome, within the {qualifications}, Maria threw 60.61 m, and 60.50 was the minimal to qualify for the ultimate. Solely Norwegian Marie-Therese Obst (61.45) achieved a greater end result. So, our competitor reached at this time’s last in her event with confidence.

– Even when it is not so good to run but, as a result of I am simply battling ache, it is nonetheless good. However after I really feel comfy in my head, I get one thing extra out of it. For me, the issue is extra technical. Bodily, I’m in excellent form. My leg damage a bit, I do not know what occurred, it went down in some way. We’re nonetheless taking part in round with it a bit. However, my throw from the elimination missed, it did not go in, it fell someplace – she defined.

– I really feel excellent about myself. This was the energy behind me getting by the {qualifications}. Now there may be not a lot time to regenerate, so proper after I discuss to you I run to my group. We have already got a full renewal plan – Andrejczyk advised journalists yesterday. – In the course of the qualification rounds, I used to be very assured, however I had not competed within the championship occasion for a very long time, so I needed to do a whole lot of group. This 12 months’s bodily type could also be totally different. That is undoubtedly not the height we’re getting ready for, as a result of we all know the place it’s speculated to be. However with regards to my psychological type, I’m very happy.

THIS IS NOT HIS COMPETITION

The athlete from Sejny didn’t disguise her massive intentions associated to coming to Rome: – I would love to win a medal. That is why I got here right here, though I’ve to confess that I at all times keep away from the European Championships, as a result of that is crucial occasion. However, for me after so a few years of breakup, each occasion will likely be vital. I’m very completely satisfied to be right here. With a terrific temper and – let me emphasize once more – a incredible group. My dad and mom are right here. It was due to my mom, who began the proposal within the second spherical, that I managed to encourage myself properly. I’ll give my all within the last.

Maria’s motivation is confirmed by the truth that she was one of many few opponents I spoke to who instantly stopped speaking in regards to the horrible group of the competitors. She didn’t need to be disturbed by the circumstances round her:- That is like complaining about the whole lot. Whether or not we wish the whole lot that helps us or hinders us is a matter of our selection. Malwa Kopron stated that even when they ask her to throw on the grass, she’s going to try this. That is truly the tactic. All of us have the identical conditions. So if somebody focuses on the truth that tartar is dangerous, troublesome, it’s a must to go to a psychologist. Both I sculpt what’s there, or I pack up and I do not name myself an athlete.

Nonetheless, at this time Maria began the competitors with none particular enthusiasm. The throw of 58.29 could possibly be handled as a apply take a look at. Nonetheless, it was clear that our participant wouldn’t win Rome with this end result. The second try was no higher. Maybe it was as a result of the ladies’s 10,000-meter race was going down within the meantime, and the opponents scattered across the total stadium – nomen omen – had taken discover of the Polish girl as properly? Whatever the motive, Andrejczyk solely achieved 55.73 m in her second throw. She was then in eighth place – the final one which allowed her to proceed taking part within the competitors. Behind her have been 4 gamers, together with her accomplice, Marcelina Witek-Konofał.

So the countdown started… and it ended instantly. Right here is Adriana Vilagoś, a Serbian who’s at the moment one of many main gamers in Europe, after two throws of round 58 meters, she lastly tried near her normal and threw the javelin to 64.42 m and so her dream of a medal from this occasion was over. Later, Andrejczyk was moved by Nikola Ogrodnikova from the Czech Republic. However it was irrelevant whether or not the 28-year-old took ninth or tenth place.

After taking tenth place, Maria was not optimistic:

– This isn’t how I thought of this last. I knew it might be an enormous problem as a result of I had by no means been in a scenario in my life the place I needed to compete day after day. My group and I did the whole lot we may. It appears to me that my psychological state was not at its greatest at this time. I’ve additionally been battling Achilles since yesterday. I did my greatest and I am sorry it did not work out. Apparently it needed to be that means. Right here is one other piece of knowledge. Now my group and I’ll analyze this startup, see what must be improved and that is it – stated Andrejczyk.

It was additionally encouraging how honest the forged may take care of her end result:- I am not going to cry as a result of I am glad I obtained again to throwing and I am right here. It isn’t cool that I am solely the tenth competitor within the European Championship, however the season continues. I nonetheless have an vital begin forward of me, so I’ve to make selections and preserve working.

– I broke the spell a bit on the European Championships, as a result of I made it to the ultimate. After all, that was not the best stage of my talents or my goals, as a result of I felt that I may do extra. However on the identical time, I knew very properly that there can be no excessive efficiency right here. Perhaps the beginning of Might is making my physique drained, however that is simply data. The earlier we deal with them, the higher the following a part of the season will look – stated Andrejczyk, after which he stated: – I strive to not be dramatic. The much less emotion there may be within the precise evaluation of efficiency, the higher I compete. Feelings are a chemical response, elevated cortisol impacts judgment, hormones are launched. So I attempt to take care of it as gently as attainable.

Will the peace she talked about imply, as within the two earlier Olympic Video games, that we’ll see Poles preventing for medals in Paris? Given her present scenario, this isn’t so sure.

However wasn’t it the identical each time Guillermo Ochoa jumped into Mexico’s aim after an unsuccessful season?

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