A student of the Silesian University of Technology at the Universiade in Turin!
About two thousand student athletes from 54 countries from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia take part in 32nd Winter Universiade, which officially began in Turin, Italy on Monday evening. Among them is Tobiasz Szyndler, a student of the Silesian University of Technology, who was included in the 82-member Academic Representation of Poland.
The Winter World University Games is the most important student sport event in winter sports. Tobiasz Szyndler takes part in it. He is a fifth-year student of preschool and early-school pedagogy at the Faculty of Organization and Management of the Silesian University of Technology.
It feels great to be part of such a big event. Every step of the way, when you meet people, whether in Turin or at airports, you can feel that it is “something bigger.” The opening ceremony was completely new to me. I didn’t expect it to be organized on such a scale. The Universiade returned to Turin after many years, and it is clear that this is something important for the organizers and residents. For me it is a huge emotion, an extraordinary experience and I am extremely grateful that I can be here – explains Tobias.
24-year-old Tobiasz is the only Pole to take part in freestyle skiing This is a discipline that involves downhill skiing on different types of routes. During the descent, the skier must perform the most effective jumps and evolutions in the air.
A student of our University has been training in Turin, and on Thursday 16 January he will take part in qualifying in the slopestyle competition (during the ride, the skier rides on handrails and jumps). Tobiasz will also take part in the big air competition (one acrobatics is to be performed on one hill) – qualifying competition will take place on Saturday, January the18th.
- I chose ski freestyle to save myself pressure and expectations. This discipline allows me to just enjoy the ride. This is what I would like to remember first and foremost. I came here without any expectations for a specific result. I will try to complete the best ride and see what position I will achieve the classification – says the student of the Silesian University of Technology.
Martyna Szymanowski – a representative in curling, a student of AGH in Krakow, but also a club competitor of AZS PŚ Gliwice will also be present in Turin.
A detailed schedule of all disciplines can be found here: link.
there is also the possibility to follow the broadcasts from the competition of athletes in Turin – link.
Let us remind you that in 2023 Kacper Szczurowski, a rider of the Silesian University of Technology, won a bronze medal in judo at 31. Universiade in Chengdu, China.
The Winter Universiade in Turin will end on January 23rd . We keep our fingers crossed for the successful performances under the Polish national flag.
Photographs by Paweł Skraba, Michał Szypliński, private archive
