Let’s experience it again. Tokyo, 2021, the medal race in the 470 class, 10 crews at the start. The Swiss are in the lead, followed by the British, the Germans, and then you. The situation is changing dynamically, you have to stay focused all the time. Did you feel that the Olympic silver medal was within your reach?

We entered the race with the aim of winning a medal. We did everything we could to get that coveted bronze disc, and our direct rivals at the time were the Slovenians. Once we had passed the first sign, we knew that it was unlikely that anyone would take this third place from us. We felt like we had a medal in our pocket. And that was the moment when we said to each other that we would fight on – for each metre. Thanks to this approach, we managed to overtake the British team at the last sign and so snatch the silver medal in the final metres.

It was only the fifth Olympic sailing medal for Poland, and the first for women in the 470 class. What does such a win taste like?

Thanks to the fact that we made it together, it tasted exceptional. It’s a fantastic feeling to be able to share such great joy with your partner on a boat. I spent many, many years training with Jola and we had a lot of great times, but also difficult moments. All this made us appreciate this medal very much and we could sincerely thank each other for our perseverance. When it comes to Polish sailing, it is a unique story because previously all medals were won in individual competitions. This is quite a challenge for the crews, as a lot of time has to be spent on perfecting communication, both on the water and on shore. Strong foundations are important. We worked hard on them. We finally reached a point where we could be 100% honest with each other and share our emotions. We knew that neither of us would judge the other, and we were a great support to each other.

In addition to the medal race, the Olympic start involves 10 races, two each day. So which is the most difficult challenge: fighting against the wind or maintaining the best possible concentration and motivation?
The Olympic Games are a special kind of competition where everyone feels under a lot of pressure. Because they only take place every four years, we often have the feeling that the chance to win a medal may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have never felt such stress before or after the Olympics as I did during that competition. All my attention before the Olympics was focused on finding ways to help me reduce it and allow me to sleep peacefully. Sleep is the biggest problem for athletes during the Olympics, and in our discipline we race for six days in a row, so it’s good to recover as much as possible during that time. I managed that, but the stress was with me from the moment I woke up until I fell asleep. Before the races, I did a short session at the gym, which helped me clear my head a little and not think about the race. One thing is for sure: when it comes to the Olympics, and this applies to the best of the best, you win with your head and lose with your head.

You are Olympic vice-champions, but also the Polish champions and European bronze medallists, among other titles. How did you manage to build such a strong team?

Jola and I have known each other for years. Our story is interesting because we first strived together to qualify for the Olympic Games in London, then we split up for four years, and later we formed a crew again to compete for an Olympic medal in Tokyo. And the truth is that these four years apart were good for us. We matured as competitors and knew what we wanted to achieve and what level of communication and trust we wanted to build in the team. When we returned to the team, we were completely different, but we had one goal in common.

Your shared history is not without its difficult moments. In addition to the mentioned separation, there was also your cycling accident, and this was just a year before the games in Tokyo. Did all of this strengthen you and give you more power?

The cycling accident put a big question mark over our dream. It was not clear when I would be able to return to the boat, or if I would be able to return at all. After that, it was not certain whether we would be able to get back in shape in time. Jola’s attitude was exceptional; I felt her support. She was patient and confident that I would get back into shape, get my head together and be well prepared for the Olympic Games in terms of sailing. Knowing that I have someone by my side who believes in me unconditionally has been a real boost.

In the 470 class, a two-person regatta class, each of you has your own tasks. One is the helmswoman, the other the crew member. What are your roles? 

First of all, we have different sails to handle. When we are sailing against the wind, Jola controls the headsail, the foresail, and I control the mainsail – the larger one – and I also steer the boat. With the wind, however, Jola has the largest sail to handle – the spinnaker, which is the main driving force for us then. Our division of roles also means that we have to gather information at any given moment – about the wind, the current and the opponents. Based on this, I have to make the final decision and dot the i’s, because I am in charge and Jola is the one who gives me all these messages. If we have the opportunity, we try to quickly discuss our strategy. We are both responsible for deciding which direction we go in and which opponents we focus on at any given time.

As fans, we usually watch athletes at competitions. We don’t see the training, the years of work, the sacrifices, the moments of doubt, the injuries. What was the most difficult part of your sporting journey?

In every sport, it is difficult to bear defeat; it is part and parcel of what we do, but we are competitors and winning is in our DNA, so dealing with a lack of form is a difficult aspect, and not just in sailing. My injury was definitely an unexpected and difficult moment because it was something we couldn’t have predicted. While we are used to stress and failure and have our ways of dealing with them, the injury came as a bolt from the blue. We came out of it stronger, both physically and mentally. And as a team. I am glad that we can be an example to other players with this story – how a potentially difficult situation can be turned into a huge success.

Your beginnings are very interesting. On the one hand, there is 8-year-old Agnieszka, who gets on an Optimist boat for the first time, and on the other hand, there is 23-year-old Jola, who decides that she wants to be a sailor instead of a volleyball player. Each of you has a different story. Is such a difference in experience an advantage?

I followed the traditional path, which means that I have been involved in sailing since I was a child and climbed up the ladder in this sport. Many sailors end their careers at the age of 23, and Jola decided to change careers. She showed great courage because she gave up everything and bet on one card. However, as a volleyball player, she had the predisposition to become a crew member. She is very efficient, agile and likes to learn, which is why she has found her place in class 470. I think you can count the number of such stories on the fingers of one hand. Helmsmen tend to have followed the traditional path, i.e. they start young and have to dedicate at least a dozen or so years to learning.

Who has been the greatest support for you throughout your entire sporting career? Someone you can always lean on?

First and foremost, my parents. They introduced me to sailing and for the first few years they financed the trips out of their own pockets, buying equipment and wetsuits. Without their help, I would not have had the chance to develop and achieve my first successes. And even though they didn’t particularly encourage me
to follow a sporting path, because that was not how they imagined my future – but a much more peaceful one, with a husband, a bunch of children and a steady job – they never forbade me from doing sports. When they were watching the footage of the Olympic medal ceremony, I could see how moved they were; I saw tears
in their eyes. That was touching. At that moment, they could congratulate themselves for letting me follow my dreams. Of course, my husband is also extremely important to me, as he supported me during the preparations. He was a support for me, I knew I could tell him absolutely everything, he didn’t judge me. This allowed me to compete in Japan with peace of mind. I knew that I had people behind me who wished me well and are sincerely and were strongly rooting for me. I’m not saying anything groundbreaking: the family is the most durable, most solid foundation.

Is it easier to accept defeat when you experience it as a duo?

Definitely, but only when we feel that we are truly a team. It is easy to fall into the trap of blaming the other one for failure and pointing out mistakes. This happens especially with younger teams or when we don’t get along with each other. Therefore, it takes a lot of maturity to separate your roles and feel jointly responsible for both success and failure. Success tastes better, but failure is also easier to bear when you feel that decisions were made together and mistakes were the result of insufficient data or, as happens in sailing, a lack of luck.

Sailing training is a huge physical effort, but it also has its pleasant side, when you can sail alongside dolphins, watch fish jumping out of the water, and explore beautiful bodies of water. Do you have many memories like that?

In retrospect, we remember the good things most of all. Until now, whenever coaches saw dolphins in the water during training sessions, they would start filming the beautiful mammals instead of the players. It is impossible to get used to this view. Sailing is a sport that gives you the feeling of being close to nature, which is fascinating. Despite the hard training, we feel very lucky because many people would pay a lot for such views, which we experience almost every day.

What is your life like after Tokyo? Both of you have become mothers and are now facing new challenges. Is sport still important to you?

I am returning to sport, which would not be possible without my husband’s support, but he was the one who encouraged me to return. It is certainly a huge challenge for me because, on the one hand, I have to find my feet in my new role as a mother and, on the other hand, I have to find my feet in my role as a mother and athlete
at the same time. I’m giving myself time to organise everything. I am glad that I have a very good crew member, Szymon Wierzbicki. I see the potential for us to win a ticket to the Los Angeles Games and compete for an Olympic medal there. At the same time, it is a great adventure for me and my family. I hope my son will come with me on my next trips. Maybe I will be an inspiration for him one day? I want him to know that, despite all obstacles, it is possible to fulfil your potential and make your dreams come true. Many people may find this difficult or unrealistic, but I believe that with my attitude, I will be able to show him that if we want something very badly and are able to dedicate ourselves to it, we can move mountains.

Agnieszka Skrzypulec-Szota
Sailor, Polish representative in the 470 class, silver medallist at the XXXII Summer Olympic Games Tokyo 2020*. Winner of the Dr Irena Eris Polish Women’s Sailing Championships in 2023. Member of the national team since 2001. Awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. Civil engineer by education.

*The XXXII Summer Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic.