Ewa Swoboda at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22 (© Getty Images)
Sprinter Ewa Swoboda is bang on target for her first global senior medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 next month. And the Pole, No.2 in the world this year over 60m, is sure to be well supported at the Scottish venue on 1-3 March.
Not only is it the same arena in which she won European Indoor Championships 60m gold in 2019, but she also has strong family ties nearby.
“It’s a big event for me,” she says. “I want to win a medal and a PB.
“I like Glasgow. It’s also close to where my brother lives in Edinburgh.”
Ewa Swoboda reacts after winning the 2019 European indoor 60m title in Glasgow (© AFP / Getty Images)
Swoboda opened her year in searing style, winning at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze event in Lodz and then at World Indoor Tour Gold events in Ostrava and Torun. At the latter, she clocked a then world lead of 7.01, her best time for two years. Only Julien Alfred, with the 6.99 she ran in New York, has gone faster so far this year. That 6.99 matches Swoboda's PB, set in Torun in 2022.
Speed has always been a feature in the life of the Zory-born runner, who also takes an interest in fast cars. Recalling her school days, Swoboda says: “I (was) faster than the boys too and my teacher looked at me and she told my parents, ‘She must go to training.’ And here I am, since 2009.”
Her first major competition saw her finish fourth in the 2013 World U20 Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, aged 16. She then placed fifth at the same event in 2014 in Eugene, USA, and became European U20 champion in Eskilstuna, Sweden, in 2015.
Then, at the 2016 Bydgoszcz World U20 Championships, she thrilled the home crowd by winning 100m silver. She went on to represent her country at the Rio Olympic Games, where she reached the semifinals.
Now, 26, she is asserting herself on the world stage. She was fourth at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade and last year she reached her first World Athletics Championships final, placing sixth over 100m.
It followed an unfortunate career blip, which meant she missed the opportunity to defend her 60m title at the 2021 Torun European Indoor Championships in her home country due to Covid-19 and then the Tokyo Olympics through injury.
Ewa Swoboda at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© AFP / Getty Images)
Now, as well as enjoying her current success on the track, Swoboda embraces being an extrovert figure in the sport. Her heavily tattooed body, painted nails and playful personality have won her a legion of fans at home and overseas.
“I am not playing any role,” she says “I am just Ewa. I am open, I don’t have a problem smiling! It’s important. I like what I do, and I am happy.”
She also welcomes being part of the current era of the women’s 100m and its colourful crop of champions, particularly world champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
“I love to run with Sha’Carri,” smiles Swoboda. “Sha’Carri is a gorgeous girl, and her energy is welcome and it’s nice to be a part of this little family.”
This year promises to be a huge one for Swoboda, with the World Indoor Championships, European Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games all in her plans: “First Glasgow, then Rome and Paris!”
As for whether, there will be more body art this year, she says: “Not now. Maybe when I win something? Maybe after (the) indoors, some more tattoos.
“I like this, it’s my hobby,” she adds, putting precious metal above tattoos as her favoured decoration for now.
Chris Broadbent for World Athletics
