Paris 2024. Magdalena Stysiak in an interview with eurosport.pl. “I am not going to Paris as a vacationer, we’ve a aim”

Magdalena Stysiak will flip 24 in December, and for 5 years she has been the powerhouse of the Polish nationwide workforce. It’s unimaginable to think about the nationwide girls’s volleyball workforce with out her. She is an undisputed star.

On Tuesday, she and her teammates took the Olympic oath and flew to Paris. The workforce of Italian coach Stefano Lavarini will play their first match on Sunday. Their opponents would be the Japanese. Three days later, the White and Reds will face the Kenyans, and on August 4, they may face Brazil.

Krzysztof Srogosz, eurosport.pl: Taking part within the Olympic Video games is the best dream for each athlete. Is it the identical for you?

– I have been desirous about the Olympics for a very long time. I bear in mind watching the Olympics with my grandmother in 2016. I adopted every little thing on TV. In 2020, we virtually made it to Tokyo. What’s delayed, is inevitable. And right here we’re.

Magdalena Stysiak is a star of the Polish nationwide workforce

Photograph: Newspix

You talked about 2020 and the failed {qualifications} in Apeldoorn. Then, within the semi-final towards Turkey, you missed 5 match factors. Did that harm?

– I skilled it very a lot as a younger participant who had simply joined the nationwide workforce. It was positively disagreeable.

You may have performed within the World Championships, the European Championships and the Nations League. Now it is time for the Olympic Video games. Is that the most important occasion?

– I believe so, though there is no such thing as a stress but. I say in each interview that we’ll attempt to strategy every match as some other.

“I used to be going via it rather a lot.” Stysiak on not qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics

However that stress will most likely seem, as a result of the stress is large. I hear that you simply went there for a medal. Do you agree?

– I do not hearken to it. We attempt to deal with our personal sport and we do not hear what individuals or commentators say. Clearly, a medal is everybody’s dream. Not solely ours, but in addition all of the followers, and we’ve one of the best followers on the planet. Additionally they demand from us and that is regular. We do not put any further stress on ourselves.

The Olympic match has a barely totally different method than what you’re used to. Even throughout the group stage, you must wait longer for the following matches. Does that matter?

– I do not know, as a result of I’ve by no means performed in a match like this, the place you must wait two or three days for the following match. It can positively be a brand new and funky expertise.

“When there’s time to work, you must work” – Stysiak earlier than the Olympic Video games in Paris

The primary problem can be demanding instantly, you are enjoying towards the Japanese. Are you afraid of those rivals?

– There aren’t any weak groups there, so we’ve to come back out of this match very properly ready from the primary level. We have now to indicate some good volleyball. This match will certainly not be simple. It would not matter if the primary match is with Kenya or Brazil, we’ve to come back out of every match with the identical perspective and all the time struggle for victory

Did successful two bronze medals in a row within the Nations League offer you extra confidence?

– You may see that ladies’s volleyball is rising in Poland and the coach has slot in very properly with our workforce. We have now grown as gamers, girls, so it is nice to play volleyball at a excessive stage and win towards one of the best rivals on the planet.

“We do not hearken to what individuals say.” Stysiak on the stress earlier than the Paris Olympics

Was coach Stefano Lavarini the lacking hyperlink in your workforce?

– Sure, he modified rather a lot. For 2 years, our volleyball has began to look totally different. He gave quite a lot of power. There is no such thing as a level in going again to what has already been. What’s essential is what’s now and what’s forward of us.

You labored final season at Fenerbahce. Aren’t you sick of one another?

– We have now an excellent relationship with the coach on and off the pitch, so we will not get sufficient of one another. In fact, typically we joke round, we joke, and when it is time to work, we’ve to work.

Stysiak on the Olympic oath

Photograph: Newspix

The coach is outwardly a really humorous man, but in addition a demanding coach. Is that proper?

– I labored with many coaches, Polish and overseas. Most of them have been Italians. I see variations and similarities of their work. After coaching, they do not level out that one thing was fallacious, they do not point out it after per week. It is essential that we deal with what’s, day-to-day, and do not return to what was. I believe he offers us quite a lot of religion. The coach offers us quite a lot of assist, and the gamers really feel it too. The volleyball gamers know that even when they make a mistake, it will not be remembered later.

“We have now one of the best followers” – Stysiak earlier than the Olympic Video games in Paris

Do you’ve got any private Olympic dream?

– I all the time say that if my well being is sweet, we are going to struggle for the remainder ourselves.

Effectively, sure, however these trials will definitely be troublesome, and already within the group stage. Plainly solely Kenya is a really unique rival. Have you learnt any of the gamers of this workforce?

– I do not know, we’re not specializing in this workforce, there can be time for that. I do not know who’s enjoying there, however you positively need to respect each opponent, as a result of they’re positively sturdy girls who can hit the ball, so it will not be such a simple match.

I do know you have not been to Paris earlier than. Will you have the ability to discover town between matches?

– No, I do not suppose so. I am going to additionally say actually that I am not going there as a vacationer. We have now our aim, we go there with our minds targeted and let’s hope that later we’ll be completely happy after which they will allow us to keep two extra days to go to the Eiffel Tower.

“We’re enjoying higher and higher from match to match.” Stysiak earlier than the Olympic Video games in Paris

What’s the aim? Medal?

– That is my dream, though I do not need to look that far into the longer term. I do know it will not be simple, however we’re enjoying higher and higher as a workforce from match to match. It has been like this in each match and that is crucial factor. At this occasion we must play properly from the primary match to get out of the group. That is our minimal.