Szeremeta calm ahead of her bout for Olympic gold: “I simply enjoy myself in the ring”

Just before the Olympic final, Julia Szeremeta remains smiling, calm and full of energy. The Polish boxer talks about the atmosphere in the national team, her approach to fighting, her distinctive boxing style and her growing popularity.

– Looking at you, it’s hard to believe that you’re about to fight in an Olympic final. You don’t look stressed.

– Because I’m actually not stressed. I’m relaxed. I didn’t feel it earlier either. Maybe it appears slightly just before I walk out to fight, but even then I don’t feel it particularly strongly. I walk into the ring in my own way and simply enjoy myself there.

– You really do look like you’re having a great time in the ring. In your last fight, you faced a very powerful puncher. Did you feel her strength?

– No. During the fight, I didn’t particularly feel her powerful punches. Obviously, adrenaline kicks in, and then you simply don’t feel many things.

– There’s very little time left before the final. How are you feeling now, and what’s the atmosphere like in the team?

– I probably don’t need to say much about the atmosphere, because it’s always great with us. We joke around, spend time together, sit around together and have a good time.

I’ll also spend the next few hours normally. I’ll probably play PlayStation, beat the coach at tennis or basketball, do another light training session and then rest before the fight.

– The coach doesn’t quite agree that you beat him.

– The coach doesn’t like losing, so it’s difficult for him to admit it. But there are videos confirming his defeats!

– What will the final moments before you enter the ring look like? Do you need silence and concentration then, or rather the presence of other people?

– Nothing new will happen. I’ll be with our team and the best coaching staff. As always, we’ll have a good time.

There will be music playing in the warm-up room, and I’ll gradually get into the right mood for the fight. I also really like the fact that the other athletes and coaches are with us, listening to music, coming over to us and chatting with us in the warm-up area. The atmosphere there is truly great.

– So you’ve simply brought the atmosphere you’ve created for years during competitions in Poland to the Olympic Games?

– Exactly. Nothing changes for us. We do everything the same way.

– Your profile has grown considerably. How do you feel about that?

– Very good. It doesn’t bother me at all. The more fans there are and the greater the interest in boxing, the better. It can only help the sport as a whole and ensure that boxing continues to develop.

– Apparently, during the European Under-12 Championships, many girls want to have a “Szeremeta” hairstyle. Do you realize that you’re becoming a role model for young female boxers?

– I can imagine that may be the case. Some people will certainly try to imitate my style, both in terms of appearance and the way I box.

– The thing is, your style probably can’t simply be copied. You’ve always boxed this way.

– Yes, exactly. It’s my style. I like boxing this way, and I really have a great time doing it in the ring.

The fact that I fight with my hands down doesn’t mean I underestimate my opponents. In that stance, I’m simply awkward to deal with. I see everything that’s happening. If I kept my hands high by my face all the time, I wouldn’t feel natural. It wouldn’t be me.

– In the final, you’ll face an opponent with completely different physical attributes. The difference in height and reach is significant. Do you already have an idea how to neutralize her?

– I’m not going to reveal that yet. You’d really have to ask the coaches about it. I don’t know all the tactical details myself yet.

I know one thing–I’ll box my own fight. It was the same before my earlier bouts. I didn’t study my opponents closely or analyze their styles. Coach Tomek gave me the most important instructions, and I stuck to them.

– Do you realize how much joy you’re bringing not only to fans, but also to young girls who train in boxing? You’re showing that it’s worth training and that it can bring enormous joy.

– I’m very happy about that. I hope more and more girls will want to train in boxing and discover that you can have a really great time doing it.

– After the Games, you’ll return to Poland. The fans will certainly want to welcome you. What would you like to say to them?

– I invite all fans to welcome our entire national team. It will be wonderful to see you.

– Thank you for the interview, and good luck in the final.

– Thank you.