Kowalczyk: I'm emerging from a hellish year
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
25.02.2015 13:08
Justyna Kowalczyk, who took bronze with Sylwia Jaśkowiec in the sprint relay at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun over the weekend, has opened up about a year wracked by injury and depression.
Justyna Kowalczyk (L) and Sylwia Jaśkowiec celebrate their bronze victory at Falun, 22.02.2015 Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot
''This past year has been an ordeal for me,'' she wrote in Wednesday's Gazeta Wyborcza.
''I'm still emerging from both physical and mental hell,'' she added.
In spite of winning the 10 km classic cross country event at the Sochi Winter Olympics in February, Kowalczyk was diagnosed with depression, and has been plagued by injuries.
Her current season saw few successes until Sunday's bronze with Jaśkowiec.
''It's hard to imagine, but I also felt like a debut medallist,'' she wrote of her comeback.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old thanked her coach Aleksander Wierietielny for his support.
''My coach is a master – any more words are superfluous.
''Hats off to Aleksander Wierietielny.''
After a mental breakdown, Kowalczyk said last summer that ''depression in sport is still a taboo subject, but it is a problem of society and athletes are as equally susceptible to it as anyone else.''
In spite of rumours of retirement, Kowalczyk recently revealed that she wants a further crack at Olympic gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics. (nh)