She is undoubtedly one of the most charming and talented European bowlers, an idol for many young players worldwide and one of the biggest social media bowling celebrities to follow. She is ultimate best Polish player, winning everything that is possible in homeland. Although global pandemic messed a lot of plans, she still seeks to be the best on Tour in the USA. All about the past, present and the future in exclusive interview with Daria Pająk.
How did bowling emerge in your life? When did you start bowling?
It is still hard to process for me that I can be an inspiration to other young players, it gives me a lot of strength and motivation to action. I started bowling when I was 6 years old and this is when the first bowling center was opened in Poland. I fell in love at the very first sight. The music, the lights, the sound of pins, different bowling balls, I was hooked.
Is it true that you started as a ‘two-handed’, later – as a back-up’ bowler? When did you changed your technique and for who we must be thankful for? Most importantly – when did you bowl you very first perfect game and are you still on counting them?
Yes, this is true. At first, I was so small I was unable to bowl one handed but after some time I moved to one hand (backup). I don’t remember exactly for how many years I stuck with it but probably not more than two. Eventually there came the time when I felt that I can no longer evolve and even though I did not hit the celling and the full potential of backup game, I was leaving many splits from the pocket and I decided to switch. Shortly after, at the age of 11 I became Polish Youth Champion. I bowled my first official perfect game when I was 16 at the Polish National Championships. I have never put a huge importance of the number of perfect games bowled but I do keep count of my 300s at the Professional events, it is currently 3.
You have won every major championship in Poland (Youth and Adult). When did you sense National events not being enough to fulfill your bowling drive?
This is something I am so very proud of because I remember how hard I work as such a little girl. I started to practice bowling at least 3 times a week ever since I was 11. It was always about doing drills, listening to the coach, waiting for another tournament. I was very disciplined as a kid, but it has never felt as a sacrifice because I simply loved it and it was paying off so well at the tournaments, until, until what feels like hitting the celling. I have won everything that I could in my country, but I was not close to becoming a top player in Europe, thankfully the idea of going to US to attend college where I can bowl for a bowling team arose and I knew that it was going to make me a top athlete or break me.
What made you decide you wanted to move to the United States for studies at WIU? Was leaving your homeland difficult?
In 2008 in Finland, I had a brief conversation with Sid Allen who told me about Webber. I think calling it a conversation is a little much as he just simply said ‘I think you have a lot of potential and when the time comes, you should consider joining Webber program in the USA’.
That’s when I knew what I am going to do after I graduate high school.
It is hard for me to recall what I felt about leaving home to go across the ocean to study, I think I was rather excited, not scared. I don’t think it was hard because I wasn’t overthinking it and trying to imagine what life there would look like. If I knew how hard it was going to be on me for the first months, I think it would be a lot harder to live home. But I survived, I had a great time and thanks to that decision, I am a member of PWBA.
It seems that four years at WIU paid off – in 2016 you became Intercollegiate Team Champion, finished high in such Tournaments as USBC Queens, US Open, even signed you first contract. Did 2016 was the best year so far or it was just a beginning for something bigger?
2016 was an odd year. I have always thought that after I graduate, I would go back to Poland. I did not consider joining the professional tour but preparing for 2016 ITC has made me a better, more confident player and slowly the idea of joining the tour was arising. I decided to stay in the US for another year after graduation, work in my field of studies and bowl at the same time. Registering for this big events was simply a test of whether I belong, surprisingly I proved myself that I can and in 2017 I joined PWBA.
Later on, in 2017, you got Rookie of the Year award. Was it your aspiration since the beginning of the season and what does this award mean to you?
Being a Rookie of the Years means everything to me. It is a proof that hard work pays off.
As an athlete who competes in many televised tournaments, you must be very tough mentally. What helps you keep the hand firm and legs steady in front of all those camera lights?
Being mentally tough is being confident that your hard work is paying off. It is trusting your abilities and not second guessing yourself. It is understanding that your opponent is not a superhuman and also may feel scared or nervous. Pre-shot routine is the most crucial element of the game that helps me deal with the stress during high pressure situations.
No doubt COVID-19 changed schedule of every athlete. Was it hard for you not to compete for almost a year now? How do you spend your time now? What do you do aside bowling? What keeps you positive in these hard times?
Covid-19 has hit me very hard. Very unfortunately I had to apply for an extension of my visa during the middle of the pandemic and because of longer processing times, I have not received it what means that I am still unable to go back to US.
It is frustrating but I try to stay positive and get ready for whatever is coming.
As you stay in Poland now, do you participate in local bowling events (if they are organized)?
There is no local bowling events during Covid-19.
Your bowling jerseys already became legendary. So colorful, elegant, and fashionable. Many people think you have a sharp eye of a designer. Do you consider became a designer for bowling outfit after professional bowler career?
Wow. This is a compliment I have never heard before and it makes me so excited !
I am actually working on 3 different jersey collections that will be released next month but as it is still a secret, I can’t say any more.
As a European player, who also has undoubtedly the best conditions to practice and compete in US, can you compere US and European bowling? In your opinion, what does bowling, as a sport, lack in Europe, where in some countries this fabulous sport is still treated as a way of entertainment and cannot be imagined without a glass of beer and fried bread?
I think this is a question that so many are trying to find an answer to, unfortunately I don’t have an answer.
Bowling in US is a lot bigger because they have a longer history with this sport, but they also have bowling on TV very often – I think this is the biggest reason of why it is more popularized in US than in Europe. Imagine watching professional bowling every week on the biggest sport channel in your country, do you think that eventually people will understand that bowling is a sport? I think so.
Unfortunately, we cannot control whether bowling will be on TV in Europe, we can control our social media and how we speak about bowling. I encourage everyone to be proud of being a bowler, post photos, videos of yourself bowl, speak well of the sport, we can grow it on everyday basis.
What would you wish for our young readers, who is still in their seek for glory as a bowling players?
Never ever give up on your dreams. The difference between being mediocre and being great is all the little things we are doing. It is having a pre-shot routine, it is bowling an extra game during practice to work on spares, it is analyzing other bowlers’ games, it is reading books. Small things make a big difference.
Never think you are not good enough – you are enough, and I believe in you.
