In triathlon, the qualifications for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 lasted for two years. The last day was May 27. Two days earlier, the final competitions took place in Cagliari, Italy. For Roksana Słupek to go to the Olympics, several factors had to align - her position in the Italian race and the results of her direct competitors. When she crossed the finish line in 16th place, she knew she would be in Paris in two months. 

- I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much – she exclaimed happily to the fans right after crossing the finish line.

But she mentioned something equally important more than half a year earlier, in the podcast "TriGapa": – It doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be good (…) I fought against depression.

It was November 2023. There was just over half a year left until the end of the points gathering period for the Olympics. The twelve highest-scoring starts in events of various ranks counted. 

Since then, Roksana won the Continental Cup races four times and placed second once. She took 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 23rd place in the World Cups. In the end, she was 16th in the aforementioned Cagliari, in the highest-ranking event - the World Championship series.

She went to the Olympics in Paris as the fourth Polish triathlete in history. Finishing the Olympic race in 13th place, she achieved the best result in the history of Polish triathlon.

- My qualification for the Olympics: a bad first scoring year, an injury, depression, and then a sprint to catch up, made me just happy to be in Paris. I had no expectations about what awaited me there. Despite the overwhelming emotions, I remember a lot. During the race, I gave everything I had. There was an incredible roar from the fans. I have never experienced such a great atmosphere before.

- Upon arriving in France, I had one more distinction awaiting me. At the Polish House in Paris, I recited the oath on behalf of several Polish athletes. For me, an athlete who has worked my whole life to go to the Olympics, it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.

Roksana Słupek's journey to Paris began in Bydgoszcz eighteen years earlier. In the first grade of primary school, she started going to the pool. The cold water was not encouraging. If her parents forgot to take her to afternoon classes, she would not remind them. Only over time, encouraged by her teacher and coach, did she start going regularly.

Waking up at five in the morning, swimming, school, swimming again, studying for the next day, sleep. The rhythm of the day and life was dictated by training. Since then, Roksana has been distinguished by her regularity and hard work. Coaches praised her for that, but less often for the results themselves. Those were the beginnings. 

In addition to swimming competitions, she also participated in aquathlon (swimming and running). She completed her first race at the age of ten. In sports high school, after adding cycling, she was already a triathlete.     

However, she still wavered between swimming and triathlon. She chose the latter. An offer from Paulo Sousa, a well-known Portuguese triathlon coach, to join his international group meant putting everything on one card: triathlon and moving to Portugal. There, due to the perfect weather for training, she spends half the year today. The other half is in Spain. What comes in between are travels to competitions scattered around the world, mainly North America, Asia, and Europe. 

- That’s when I felt what it means to live out of a suitcase. My goal is to pack that bag again and go with it, as an athlete, to Los Angeles in 2028. That’s where the next Olympic Games will take place. I dream of it, and I will do everything to participate.

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In the 2025 season, BlackBurst was one of Roksana Słupek’s partners. 

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The author of the photo of Roksana Słupek from the Academic World Triathlon Championships is Michał Buczyński.