Kasia Wasick: Retired, Returned, and Racing to Gold
Kasia Wasick’s comeback is among the most exceptional tales in trendy swimming. She retired. She got here again. Now she’s beating swimmers half her age. The oldest swimmer on the European Aquatics Championships, Kasia Wasick gained gold and broke masters world information together with her brothers.
5-time Olympian and Polish nationwide report holder Wasick sprinted to victory within the girls’s 50-meter freestyle on the European Aquatics Championships. In entrance of a roaring house crowd, Wasick touched the wall in 23.20 to say her first particular person European gold medal—all whereas being the oldest competitor on the meet.
Then, in contrast to {most professional} swimmers, the 33-year-old stayed in Poland to race on the following Masters European Championships. Not solely did she break masters information within the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle, however, alongside together with her two brothers, claimed the world masters report for the 4 x 50 combined freestyle relay.
Evolving With the Sport
Initially retired in 2016, Wasick continues to push the boundaries of aggressive swimming, proving that have, technique, and keenness can compete with youth and uncooked velocity.
“ I by no means thought I’d make it to a different Olympics after which to a different Olympics and nonetheless be within the recreation. However over time, I’m undoubtedly not the identical athlete. I raced many generations, and I needed to evolve yearly to be the athlete I’m proper now, and I feel subsequent yr I’m going to be slightly bit totally different. However that’s the great thing about it,” Wasick stated in a post-race interview.
“Despite the fact that I’m nearly the oldest, I at all times attempt to study from different swimmers–see how they do their heat downs and heat ups–however what’s greatest about that is I simply get to race.”
Profitable Gold within the Girls’s 50 Freestyle
“ Profitable my first particular person gold medal at house in entrance of my household, in entrance of my individuals–that’s simply unbelievable. I’m so completely happy,” Wasick says. ”I’m nonetheless tremendous excessive on the entire week.”
Wasick led the short-course 50m freestyle from begin to end, hitting the 25m break up at 11.17 seconds. France’s Beryl Gastaldello and Italy’s Sara Curtis pushed her to the wall, however Wasick out-touched each by 0.21 seconds for a last time of 23.2.
Wasick raced in 6 occasions complete. Notably, she additionally gained two bronze medals as a part of the combined 4x50m medley and the ladies’s 4x50m freestyle groups.
“The perfect factor was after I touched the wall, I didn’t even take a look at the scoreboard. I didn’t know the time however I knew I gained as a result of the group went nuts,” she laughs. “That was a fantastic second that I’ll undoubtedly carry with me by the remainder of my profession.”
Household Assist and Emotional Moments
Not solely did Wasick have the house crowd benefit, however her household was current, together with her husband, who flew from Texas on the final minute to shock her.
“My household was there within the stands. I imply, all my household–and my husband. He was a star. He initially wasn’t supposed to return to Poland due to work. He didn’t inform me he flew in for my race, in order that was so emotional for me to have him and all of them there,” she says.
A Household World Document
Whereas most of her friends returned house after the occasion, Wasick stayed in Poland, not simply to go to with household–however to race with them. She entered the Masters European Championships, competing within the 50,100, and 200 meter freestyle, and relays. Not solely did she find yourself setting information in all three occasions for the 30+ age group, however she and her brothers assembled a powerhouse relay staff.
The dream Polish staff of Kasia, Robert Wilk, Krzysztof Wilk, and 2024 Olympian Paulina Peda, raced within the 4x50m freestyle in a time of 1:35.72 to win and break the masters world report.
“Our dream was at all times to swim collectively within the relay,” Wasick shares. “So when it lastly occurred, it was simply–we have been laughing and smiling, and it was simply such a enjoyable reminiscence.”
A Journey from NCAA Champion to European Champion
After transferring to the USA in 2012 to attend the College of Southern California, Wasick pursued each elite swimming and her research, changing into an NCAA champion whereas competing on the highest collegiate degree. Following commencement, Wasick retired in 2016 attributable to a shoulder damage and life modifications. Two years later, after racing at a neighborhood masters meet in Las Vegas, Wasick realized she nonetheless liked the game.
That return reignited her profession. Since then, Wasick has competed in two extra Olympic Video games, ending fifth within the girls’s 50m freestyle in Tokyo and Paris, reset Polish nationwide information, gained World Cup races, and now added European gold and masters world information to her résumé.
Wasick doesn’t remorse her retirement. The time away gave her a optimistic perspective that powers her by each powerful coaching session, each competitors, and helps her continually discover pleasure in her sport. “I spotted the entire journey is wonderful. The possibility I’ve to swim, to fulfill wonderful individuals, take pleasure in time within the pool, what I’m doing, working with my physique, and having enjoyable. I wish to take pleasure in it whereas it lasts,” she says.
Supported by THEMAGIC5
All through the second section of her profession, THEMAGIC5 has supported Wasick’s journey.
“I simply hope our relationship can develop even greater as a result of THEMAGIC5 was the corporate that actually believed in me earlier than any worldwide success, earlier than I had a world medal. They approached me and wished to signal me, and, for me, it was actually particular that somebody believed in me from the start,” she says.
“It’s a really natural relationship. I really like their product. I examined it earlier than signing, they usually gave me an opportunity to see if I favored it, however I fell in love with the goggles.”
Backed by Perception, Chasing a Sixth Olympics
Wasick raced Europeans in pink mirrored THEMAGIC5 goggles however hopes to return to her purple “Kasia” particular version goggles for Los Angeles 2028.
”That’s undoubtedly my objective. Clearly, I wish to take one yr at a time as a result of I wish to take pleasure in this podium, but it surely’s undoubtedly my objective to go to my sixth Olympics,” she says.
“It’s going to be in Los Angeles, and that’s form of the place my profession began. To have the ability to go to my faculty, possibly prepare there, and be within the metropolis that I really feel actually good in, that’s one thing stunning that I can do. So, sure, it’s undoubtedly my objective, and I hope I might be in the most effective form of my life there. The success at Europeans gave me a variety of confidence.”
THEMAGIC5 is proud to proceed supporting Kasia Wasick as she chases Olympic goals, breaks world information together with her household, and proves that longevity, adaptability, and love for the game can carry athletes additional than anybody expects.
