Participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics is a dream come true – an interview with Polish speed skater Zbignev Brodka

Warsaw, 19 Jan (Xinhua) -- Participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics is a dream come true -- An interview with Polish speed skater Zbignev Brodka

Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Zhang Chen Chen

For Polish speed skater Zbignev Brodka, participating in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is a dream come true, as it will be the fourth Winter Olympics for the Winter Olympic gold medalist, who will also end his speed skating career in Beijing.

Brodka won the gold medal in the men's 1500m speed skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and became the first athlete in Polish history to win a speed skating gold medal. In October 2019, Brodka decided to give up training due to injury and devote himself to his job as a professional firefighter.

Two years later, Brodka still struggled to let go of his favorite speed skating, and after much deliberation, he finally decided to put on his skates again and challenge the qualification for the Beijing Winter Olympics. Kung Fu pays off, and after a long period of systematic training, he successfully got the ticket to the Winter Olympics. Beijing will be the Polish veteran's fourth and final Winter Olympics.

"There is no doubt that participating in the Winter Olympics for the fourth time is a dream come true for me." Brodka said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency a few days ago, "After the Winter Olympics, it will be the best time to retire, when I was almost 38 years old. ”

"I know I can't make a breakthrough physically." "After more than two years off the track, I want to use the Beijing Winter Olympics to say 'goodbye' to my supporters," he said. ”

The 37-year-old Pole wants to end his speed skating career in Beijing because the ancient Chinese city means so much to him.

"When I gave up training, I thought about getting back on the track and ending my speed skating career in Beijing. For me, it's only natural to be able to stand on the track and say goodbye. "I started my speed skating career at the World Youth Championships in Beijing, and that race nearly 20 years ago had an unusual significance for me because it was my first time in a major event, I went to China with a learning mindset, and I always remember that wonderful memory." ”

At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Brodka will participate in a group-departure competition. He believed he had the strength to stand on the podium and at the same time he didn't have any pressure.

"Winning the Olympic gold medal is proof that I have climbed to the highest peak, so I don't need to prove anything more in Beijing." He said, "Anyone in the competition I'm in this time could win a medal, and it's nice to be able to get a surprise, but I didn't expect much of it." ”

Participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Polish veteran's feelings are mixed, because this is where his speed skating career began and will end.

'For me, the time to play at the highest level is coming to an end and I know very well that the last game will be a tough moment for me, but I know at a certain moment you have to choose to end your career. Brodka said, "I'm very happy that I've been playing at the highest level for almost 20 years. (End)