Sylwia Gruchala is the new female face of
of K•Swiss.
Sylwia Gruchala is the new female face of K•Swiss. The strikingly beautiful fencing champion from Poland has recently aligned herself with the major sports brand, and is featured in various K•Swiss advertising campaigns around the globe.
The following article provides a brief impression of her life and motivations, an insightful look at how she came to be such a success in the grueling world of competitive, international fencing.
Sylwia Gruchala, the female face of K•Swiss was not like the other kids at primary school. While most girls opted for basketball, soccer, or even dress-ups, Sylwia was making important sporting decisions - decisions which would ultimately give her Olympic medal glory, and honour her as the elite of the fencing sports-world.
These were big decisions for anyone, let alone for this petite Polish seven year-old who had always dreamt of being a runner. Luckily, Sylwia's first coach recognised her extraordinary talent, and persuaded her to keep at it. As he taught her to master the foil, Sylwia also learnt to be unrealistically optimistic - to play with a confidence that left no room for defeat. Soon, Sylwia became an unlikely winner; outdoing opponents double her age and skill-level. While most people jeered at such optimism, Sylwia just kept on winning, right up until her selection for the team competition at Sydney 2000. There, she played a vital role in the collective success, taking home a silver Olympic medal. At this point, however, Sylwia set herself another goal - to win an individual Olympic fencing medal, and to make fencing her ongoing profession.
She began to train even harder, and has since persisted with an intensive schedule. Twice a day, Sylwia spends two hours with her coach, working on her mental and physical abilities. Each afternoon, she practices with some of the world's best fencers, and manages to squeeze in some hours at university in-between. Sylwia also believes in lower-body strength, and works through intense sessions with a trainer at the gym. And so, by the time Athens 2004 hit, Sylwia was ready for a medal of her own. She convincingly took the individual bronze medal, and says that this is her greatest achievement to date. But the winnings did not stop there. In 2005, she also won the World Cup title in New York in which she defeated some of Europe's best female fencers, and was crowned Champion.
So, if the gals in Europe are no match for this wonderwoman, who then, could possibly rival this Polish champion? Sylwia Gruchala says she is her own worst enemy and greatest rival. She believes that sport is a battle within, and maintains that a true champion will face their weaknesses and fears. In doing so, Sylwia says she the power to beat anybody. She learnt this and more from greats such as ex-race walker Robert Korzenowski, who finished his career with a gold-medal win in Athens. Korzenowski was celebrated for his sporting greatness, Sylwia says, but also for his ability to combine his sport with other elements of life. Sylwia believes that this is the true sign of success - an ability to have a career and a family.
At the moment, however, Sylwia has little space to think about starting a family of her own. Her ability, beauty and fiery charm means that Sylwia is noticed wherever she goes. She finds the attention a little unsettling, but understands that it is part of being successful. For the most part, Sylwia just wants to be happy - to give joy to those who support her, and have a little fun in-between. Someday, she would like to combine her work and studies in the areas of sport and psychology, and teach others the importance of the mental game. In the meantime, she has her eye on Olympic medals in Beijing and London, and something tells us that Sylwia Gruchala is ready to take some gold home.
