Aguśka Mnich, a two-time world and European freestyle football champion, speaks with Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh about her sports and travel passions.
Born and raised in Poland and now based in London, Mnich dreams of one day competing in the Olympics if the sport ever becomes an Olympic discipline.
As well as her freestyle football titles, she has also worked with a number of major sports companies and organisations including Uefa, Fifa, adidas, Nike, Orange and Three UK.
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What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why?
My most memorable sporting holiday was in Miami in November 2019. The world championship was taking place there. After the competition, my friends and I decided to stay for an extra week to enjoy the city and beach. This included walking around shooting cool pictures and videos from the city. I know that Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham has recently opened their new stadium and I would love to do a freestyle show in front of him and the fans.
What was the best sports venue/stadium that you had a chance to compete in and why?
I have not competed in a stadium yet, but I have done showcases in the stadiums of Chelsea and Arsenal which was very exciting. However, in terms of the best venue I can say it was in the city of Prague and the Open Championships took place within a hotel setting, the Top Hotel Praha offering a unique event arena. Organisers created a fantastic stage and the audience created an amazing energy which helped me compete and perform better.
If you could choose one adrenalin or adventure activity to do on holiday what would it be and where?
I would love to try jet-skiing I guess, because it looks so much fun and has the potential to be a huge adventure. Another choice on my bucket list is to climb various mountains, starting from the smallest to the highest. I believe that through this activity, where the higher you get the more demanding the challenge will enable me to mentally become stronger and use all my resources to reach the summit. I always believe that the hardest battle to overcome is the one in your head so by going through this process you can push your personal boundaries and become better as a person and as an athlete.
What’s the ultimate sporting event you would like to attend as a fan?
I would love to go to Milan, Italy to watch football at the San Siro – one of the most renowned stadiums in the world. One of my dreams is to do a half time freestyle show in the stadium in front of many thousands of fans. I am also a huge fan of volleyball. I would love to go to the men’s and women’s championship finals to enjoy the excitement and energy of the sport.
Having travelled widely as a professional athlete, does any specific country impress through their sport tourism offering?
Yes definitely. Last year I attended the European Freestyle Football Championships in Budapest and came through to win the title. The event was organised by the World Freestyle Football Association [WFFA]. The organisers went out of their way to enable us to enjoy the city and its attractions during the period of our competition. One example was going to watch a professional women’s Champions League final football match between Barcelona and Lyon. Also, sightseeing around this beautiful and historical capital city added to the whole experience. The venue, the stage, the activities and audience all made this particular event perfect. Moreover, this was one of the first competitions dedicated as a women-only event, so each of us competitors felt really special.
Do you wish one day that freestyle one day becomes an Olympic sport especially with the rise of new disciplines such as skateboarding?
It’s my dream that freestyle will become an Olympic sport. People don’t really know how difficult freestyle is, so if it ever became an Olympic discipline it would raise awareness of all the efforts and the skill requirement we need to be a top athlete and competitor, just like many other sports at the highest level. In freestyle for example, you need to practice four different styles – on your head; sitting [lying down]; tricks with your legs while standing [the most difficult one]; and the transition [combinations of tricks between two styles] – plus acrobatic elements like a hand-stand or back-flip.
For enquiries about Aguśka Mnich contact centricsm.com
Images: Aguśka Mnich | Video: Soccer Stories – Oh My Goal/YouTube