PeSzy: Before anything else: congratulations! Now, I remember the Teresin competition - we talked for the first time after that event. I strongly recommend the article. Paulina, what did you do in your time between Teresin and Cieszyn?

Paulina: After Teresin and my first loss to the world vice-champion, I got a boost in motivation and, finally, some more time for practice. I focused on my weak points and reducing my weight from 73 kg to 68. The amount of my armwrestling training didn't decrease - I still trained twice a week but the thought of the championships gave me strength and I think I gave it my all during training because of that.

PeSzy: Were you more hopeful or stressed?

Paulina: I have to admit I was hoping for gold before the competition. I think it's always good to have hope because everything can happen at the table. I think, however, that even I didn't fully believe I could do it after training for such a short time and with competitors of this level. On competition day I was a nervous wreck, I saw so many athletes around me that I could only see in videos before. I was trying to focus on doing my best and not forgetting the technique I had practised and that I still have to work on.

When after the finals I heard the official announcement that I'm now the Champion of Poland, I kept laughing to myself and couldn't believe I had really done it. Of course, without a good training plan created by Slava Kuksa and the support I got from everyone, it would all have been impossible.

Now, after the championships, I'm watching my fights and I see what I could have done better, I know my weak points and I will keep working on them. I'm really happy that I'd won but I don't plan to settle on just that.

The European Championships in Finland look tempting but there are a few things that will probably stop me from going. I will try my best, though, to use this year to improve in armwrestling and I truly hope I can compete next year!

PeSzy: Thanks for the interview and, once again, congratulations!