'I Could've Died So I Really Got Scared': Swiatek Recalls Near-Death Experience Skiing

| by Nurein Ahmed

Iga Swiatek opened up on a chilling childhood experience while skiing and explained the ordeal left her traumatized when growing up.

Speaking in her post-match press conference following a thumping win over Rebecca Peterson, Swiatek started her US Open title defense in the best possible manner. The Pole answered a question on whether skiing is a sport she actually enjoys.

Swiatek stated that her current schedule does not allow her to venture into her hobbies, but she is unlikely to try skiing again after an unpleasant experience when she was seven that nearly cost her life. Swiatek also drew parallels between skiing and tennis, saying that they are individual sports with the same events for both men and women.

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"No, last time I skied was when I was seven and I had an accident that I could have died so I really got scared. I don't get scared that easily but this for sure stopped me. Yeah, that was the last time. I'm sad about it, because now when I'm a pro, I don't really have time to do sports like that. I wish I could, you know."

"But for sure, yeah, it was a kind of traumatic experience for me when I was younger. So maybe it was wise, you know, to stop, because when you're scared of such sports that, you know, kind of when you need, you know, a little bit higher adrenaline and when you need to be focused and ready, it's pretty dangerous, you know."

World No. 1 Swiatek has met with retired American Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn who has won the World Cup races in all five disciplines, but not yet with Mikaela Shiffrin who is currently active on Tour.

Swiatek and Shiffrin do keep in touch though, and even entertained the idea of playing doubles together. Shiffrin, also an American, has the most World Cup wins of any Alpine skier in history - and Swiatek expressed her adulation for the pair, calling them huge inspirations.

"But for sure I'm happy that, you know, I had a chance to meet them. I haven't met Mikaela yet because she's always on tour the same as me and it's hard to find time. They are huge inspirations for me. We kind of have similar experiences, especially I feel that when I hear all the interviews of Mikaela, I feel like we are kind of the same sometimes (smiling)."

"So, yeah, it's just nice to have somebody you can look up to, and that shares the same experiences that you can learn from. I'm happy that they are also so open to talk about everything. Yeah, that's pretty cool."

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