photo: Szymon Sikora / Polish Olympic Committee
Daria Pikulik’s medal was overshadowed by yesterday’s performance of Mateusz Rudyk, who finished the keirin competition in 10th place. – My legs were already a bit empty. I didn’t have that fuel, so I wanted to be more cunning to get to that semi-final – said the Pole.
After a very good performance in the individual sprint, Mateusz Rudyk wanted to compete in the keirin. Although he is a “newbie” in this discipline, he has already achieved successes, such as the silver medal at this year’s European Championships. At the Olympic Games, the level was of course much better, but the Pole approached the first round without complexes, in which he advanced from second place to the quarterfinals.
In a conversation with our portal, Mateusz Rudyk admitted that he was counting on his legs being better on Sunday. However, this did not happen, and in the semi-final and B final, the Polish sprinter had to admit the superiority of his rivals. Ultimately, he finished the competition in 10th position. Interestingly, each time Mateusz Rudyk was drawn last in the string of competitors. He himself said that it was a “losing position”, but he tried to get 100% out of it, keeping an eye on the strongest rivals or attacking from afar.
– My legs were already a bit empty. I didn’t have that fuel, so I wanted to get into that semi-final more cunningly. I saw that everyone was waiting for that last half, for the last hundred meters. Everyone was riding on that floor, high, and there was a place at the bottom. I took advantage of it, I went down, squeezed in and thanks to that I advanced to the semi-final. I gave my life there and we saw that I had no chance in the semi-final. I won’t hide it. I had no chance to take up the gauntlet. My legs were empty, then I wanted to win the final 7-12, but there was no strength in my legs. I had no arguments to fight for that 7th place
– added Mateusz Rudyk, who only recently started competing regularly in keirin.
– I was defending myself against it, because I only started riding keirin at championship events this year. I started with a bang, because I was immediately the vice-champion of Europe in this discipline. A crazy race, but a good one. I wanted to prepare for keirin, because it was another chance for a medal. After 5th place in the sprint, I believed that I was able to fight for this final in keirin. It didn’t work out, I had the B final, consolation, and I gave it my all. Today I was able to get 10th place, but I am happy with the Games, because I am the fifth competitor in the world in sprint and despite all the problems that were in my way, or any Polish cyclist’s way, I showed that if you want and believe, you can go far. Unfortunately, if we are talking about fighting for medals, everything has to be buttoned up, and in our case, unfortunately, someone forgot about this button
– said Mateusz Rudyk, who has repeatedly raised the issue of problems of Polish cyclists in the media.
He himself faced many difficulties, including the lack of a TUE certificate and, as a result, a temporary suspension, due to which it was not known whether he would take part in the Olympic Games. The Pole started at the velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, but in the sprint competitions he was alone. The sprint team, which won the bronze medal at this year’s continental championship, did not advance to the most important event of the 4th anniversary.
– After returning from the European Championships, where I brought 3 medals, I was informed that there was no financing for cycling due to the problems of the Polish Cycling Association, we were finishing all the actions and in fact we were flying to Australia, having learned about the flight a few days earlier. Then we were not flying to Hong Kong, because there was no money. To Canada for the last World Cup, where there were even qualifications, to be here, my coach and I were running around for money, we were organizing and asking for someone to guarantee us this start. It shouldn’t be like this. Thanks to my club, the support of sponsors, I am here, because I am the only sprinter here. The team didn’t make it, because they didn’t have the support that I have from people who believe in me, but unfortunately no one will give me a few hundred thousand for preparations, because private people can’t afford it. I saved myself as much as I could. The club paid for the coach’s training camp so that he could fly with me. We were scheming as much as we could, but there was no dot over the “i”. We won’t overcome all the problems. Without the help of people higher up who govern and manage this money, it simply won’t work.
– Mateusz Rudyk described the problems, but he admits that he does not intend to give up and he already has the Olympic Games in 2028 in his head. They will take place in Los Angeles in the United States.
– I am a fighter, I fight until the end. I showed at these games that despite all the problems I fight and I want to fight for Los Angeles. I have very smart people in my team – a great coach, physiotherapists, mechanics. Really people who sacrifice themselves, but if they don’t get paid for a few months, there is no training at all, then it just isn’t possible. I often want to say enough is enough, but on the other hand I want to show that despite all these adversities, because I also have diabetes, it is possible to do all this. I want to be an inspiration to these young people, because unfortunately, if we only complain, no parent will send their children to sports. We can also see this in the example of the sports level in Poland, because from what I know, we are not doing very well with the medal classification. It’s a pity, because we have really excellent competitors, a lot of talent and people who could stand on the podium here, but if we don’t have this support, youth training programs and funding, we won’t be happy with medals, only with places like mine or when someone succeeds
– added Mateusz Rudyk. Shortly after saying these words, Daria Pikulik stood at the start of the points race, which concluded the women’s omnium. The Pole – despite everything – won the coveted medal and stood on the second step of the podium.
From the velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines for Naszosie.pl, Kacper Krawczyk
