Poland swimmers sent home from Tokyo Olympics | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

Poland swimmers sent home from Tokyo Olympics

25 July, 2021
Swimming at an Olympics
Swimming at an Olympics

Poland’s national swimming team sent six athletes home from the Tokyo Olympic Games after selecting too many by mistake.

Poland picked 23 swimmers but had to trim its team to 17 to comply with qualifying rules for FINA, the international federation for water sports.

Alicja Tchorz, an Olympian at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games, ranted over Facebook about Poland’s error.

“Imagine dedicating five years of your life and striving for another start at the most important sporting event, giving up your private life and work, sacrificing your family and your dedication results in a total flop,” she wrote on Facebook.

Alicja Tchorz was one of six Polish swimmers who had to return from Japan even before the start of the Olympics after the Polish Swimming Federation (PZP) sent too many athletes because of an administrative error.

Poland’s Alicja Tchorz was one of six Polish swimmers who had to return from Japan even before the start of the Olympics after the Polish Swimming Federation (PZP) sent too many athletes because of an administrative error.

Polish Swimming Federation (PZP) president Pawel Slominski issued an apology and was understanding of the outrage by swimmers on the country’s national team.

“I express great regret, sadness and bitterness about the situation,” Slominski said in a statement. “Such a situation should not take place, and the reaction of the swimmers, their emotions, the attack on the Polish Swimming Federation is understandable to me and justified.”

Slominski noted the motive behind sending 23 swimmers inadvertently was a “desire to allow as many players and coaches as possible to take part in the Games.” (USA Today)

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