Marta Wieliczko (POL)

Rising Star –December 2016

Marta Wieliczko is a 22-year-old Polish sculler.  She’s a two-time under-23 World Champion in the women’s quadruple sculls and is currently training with the Polish national squad.  Her home club is Wisla in Grudziadz.  Marta tells us why rowing inspires her – and how it’s in her blood.

How I discovered rowing….Rowing has been in my family for a long time. My parents were rowers. My mother won an Olympic silver medal in rowing, representing Poland. I wanted to find my own talent and it turned out to be rowing as well. I guess this sport runs in our blood.

Rowing’s always been the sport for me….. The only contact I had with other sports was during my physical education classes at school.

I chose rowing because… I could see my future in it.

What I like best about rowing… The competitiveness between athletes without physical contact. In rowing, in order to be fast and master the movement you need to concentrate on the technique and repeat each part of the stroke over and over again

How I’m training just now… I’m preparing for new season 2017 with Polish National Team during training camps (between them I train at my club boathouse.)

My favourite training session… I like short, intense and fast pieces on either erg or water.

My funniest rowing moment… My coach was helping me to carry the boat down to the dock and he didn’t notice the edge of it, so he stepped into the water and fell down.

In my free time… I go to the movies, hang out with my friends and go shopping.

How rowing has changed now I’m at the elite level…  a lot more practices – and their intensity has increased!

The rowing star I most admire… My Mum is my biggest role model and idol.

Status of rowers in Poland… Rowers in Poland, as in many other countries are not celebrities. We are not recognizable on the streets, nor popular in media. Also, there’s not many of us in Poland. Thanks to that, we all know each and live as one big rowing family.

What I’ll be doing at Christmas…. I will be spending my time with my family in my hometown.

My ultimate rowing goal…. My biggest dream is winning a medal at Olympic Games.