Last minute call! Szałankiewicz teams up with Bryl at EuroBeachVolley
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Saying that it was a late call, is like saying nothing. Jakub Szałankiewicz arrived to Vienna only a few hours before his opening match at the EuroBeachVolley. Ranked 17th in the world, Michał Bryl and Grzegorz Fijałek, who competed recently together in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were expected to play together again in Vienna, but Fijałek's injury thwarted their plans. Thus, Bryl desperately needed to find a partner, eventually teaming up with Szałankiewicz, who two days ago competed in tournament in Poland.
34-year-old Grzegorz Fijałek has already struggled with shoulder injury for a long time, and although he arrived to Vienna he was forced to withdraw from competition. Therefore, Michał Bryl and their coaching staff were looking for a replacement to give a chance to Bryl to stay in the quest for European crown. "Grzegorz's shoulder bore only the Olympic Games, thanks God that it did at least this, and later here it was getting worse and worse. Fortunately, we found Jakub and he could replace Grzegorz and he fought really bravely, only one ball was missing in the end of the last set and we could have won this game. But well now we are focused on the second match and we keep fighting!" - said Bryl after their lost 2-1 game against Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira. The tense and thrilling match delivered many spectacular actions, once the tie-break itself went in extra time.
It's definitely praiseworthy as it was barely impossible to see that they are a brand new team, which exists only... a few hours. "I came to Vienna today after midnight, two days ago at 7pm I was playing tournament in Poland, I came back home at 3am and at 2pm on Wednesday I found out that I have to come here. Quick testing and all procedures to come here and play, and here I am!" - Szałankiewicz said.
Jakub Szałankiewicz"We had an opportunity to play together, but it was really long time ago, so we have to remind ourselves how to do it together. Match by match we will try to improve as a team. We train all year long to be able to play at every situation, even in cases like this one. I can say that I felt good on the court today."
26-year-old Michał Bryl made his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, together with Fijałek they reached the Round of 16, losing to Italian duo Lupo/Nicolai. "I hoped for a better result at the Games. I didn't want to end the tournament there losing in quick 2-0, but once falling then falling off your high horse", admitted Polish Olympian. Being asked about the goals for tournament in Vienna, he says:
Michał Bryl"I never say that I come to win a medal, we are staying focused on every ball. We have to arrange everything on the court between us, get used to each other again and find our game. Our goal is to do our best and to get better and better match by match."
His new partner, a 32-year-old Jakub Szałankiewicz added: "We are a new team, so it's hard to say what goals we have. Because like in this game - one ball, one lack of sync-up, can decide about the result. One ball, which I should have set higher to Michał could change the entire match. Everyone comes here to win a medal. We will do our best, we know that we can play and that we can make a few surprises."