What drives an athlete to compete in the Olympic Games? For some, it’s the allure of etching their names on a global stage. For others, it’s a profound sense of patriotic duty. But for the 5-time Grand Slam Champion Iga Swiatek, her motivation is deeply personal, rooted in her close bond with her father.

Iga Swiatek hails from an athletic background. Her father, Tomasz Swiatek, is a Polish rower and a former Olympian who has made his country proud on several occasions. His experiences, amalgamated with the stories of the grand tournament, have resonated deeply with Iga, which encourages her more for the Olympics.

In an interview with Euro Sports before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Swiatek revealed her motivation. “The Olympics have long been a very important tournament for me. Many tennis players do not intend to compete in them, but for me, it has always been the most important event.” Even in the Paris Olympics, several star players like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, Jannik Sinner, and Ben Shelton, have withdrawn from the tournament either due to injury or to focus on the hardcourt season at the US Open.

Continuing further, Iga revealed her father’s anticipation to her, “Also because of my father, who was an Olympian and competed in rowing in Seoul in 1988. Since childhood, I have heard many positive things about the Olympics from him.” For the unversed, Tomasz Swiatek competed in the men’s quadruple sculls event at the 1988 Summer Olympics, in which Poland won the “B” final and finished at the seventh spot, overall. The Polish sensation is currently gearing up for her first match.

Iga Swiatek will face Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in the first round on Saturday. While she was also scheduled to participate with Hubert Hurkacz in the mixed doubles category, the latter’s knee injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament. This, however, is not the first time when Swiatek opened up about her Olympic campaign. 

The clay court ‘queen’, who won 4 titles at Roland Garros, the same place where the Olympic games are being played, has reflected similar sentiments in the past as well. “I know that the Olympics are the most important event probably in sports overall,” Swiatek said at the French Open’s draw ceremony. “Winning any medal would be a dream come true.” But despite the close bond that Iga shares with her father, he does not show up for her matches!

Why does Iga Swiatek’s father avoid watching her daughter play live?

Iga Swiatek has often opened up about the close bond with her father. But Tomasz Swiatek does not show up for her matches on the court and he himself revealed the reason behind the same. An Instagram post in March captioned, “How to raise the best tennis player in the world?” by TVP Sports, quoted Tomasz admitting he doesn’t watch  Swiatek’s matches live. 

Swiatek’s father, being a former athlete himself is no stranger to the high pressure of the tennis matches. “I watch most of Iga’s matches at home. Sometimes I arrange to watch it with friends. Watching the match live is very demanding because every look or gesture is noticed by Iga.” This signifies that any unwarranted gesture would create more pressure on the tennis star on the court.

As the Olympic games unfold, it would be fascinating to see if Swiatek can bring a medal for her country this time or succumb in the early rounds like 2021. While only time will tell her destiny, what is certain is an intense showdown!