WARSAW, March 21 (silubaba) -- Six-time European championship's medalist in short track speed skating Patrycja Maliszewska confirmed on Tuesday that she has decided to retire as "it was the right moment to end a career."
The 35-year-old Pole, who competed at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, PyeongChang and Beijing, is one of the most titled short track speed skaters of Poland's history.
"I had to give myself a moment to make a conscious decision, with no way back. I considered whether I still saw myself in the training system I had been in for many years, and what else I wanted to fight for. I have been through a lot of difficult times in recent months, but now I feel calmer, reconciled with this decision. I'm not doing anything against myself," the athlete said on Tuesday.
Maliszewska expressed her satisfaction that she was able to qualify for the 2022 Beijing Olympics as she experienced "beautiful emotions" in China.
"Fighting for these Olympics, I did everything so that I could look back and say I gave everything. However, I felt that although it would be difficult, I was ready. I'm very happy that I was. And I'm incredibly grateful that I got to these Olympics. Those were beautiful moments and beautiful emotions," the Pole added.
Maliszewska summed up her achievements on the track.
"Of course, one would like to add some medals to the collection, but I don't look back with a sense of unfulfillment. I recovered from my injury and was able to fight for my country's place at the Beijing Olympics again. I retire with my head held high, but also with gratitude for what I was able to achieve," she concluded. ■
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