When she sat down with West Ham TV before UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 and was asked what walking out with Poland at their first-ever major tournament would feel like, Kinga Szemik chuckled with excitement, paused and said: “Ask me the same question in a few months and I’ll tell you…”
Well, here we are, two months later at Padel Powers Smíchov - an indoor padel complex in Prague. The West Ham United No1 pulls up a chair in the café having played an intense game with fellow goalkeepers Katie O’Hanlon, Megan Walsh and midfielder Jess Ziu.
Szemik was partnered with 21-year-old O’Hanlon, who recently penned her first professional contract with the Club, and the pair edged to a 4-3 success, with the Poland international making the game look easy as she effortlessly pulled off some superb sliced shots to help her team to victory.
She left the court with a smile, admitting she’s played a few times before.
The padel game offered a chance for the shot-stoppers to spend some time away from the pitch but still train effectively during West Ham United women’s team’s pre-season training camp in the Czech capital. And with goalkeeping coach Chris Pipe adopting the rolls of umpire, ball boy and commentator on the sidelines - supplying words of encouragement to his union - it was a time everyone enjoyed.
So, after the victory, Szemik sat down in her chair and reflected on her history-making summer with a smile: “It was a dream come true,” she said.
The 28-year-old played every minute of Poland’s first appearance at a major tournament and insisted she learned a lot from the experience. But the moment when the Polish national anthem played at AFG Arena in Switzerland, and Szemik looked up to her proud family, will live with her forever.
Firstly Kinga, you’ve just come off the padel court! How did you find it?
“It’s great that we can do different activities that link to what we do on the pitch. It’s so important to get out of the pattern of what we normally do because mentally it keeps you fresh, it keeps you engaged, and it’s so much fun! We can train, but enjoy it as well."
Did you enjoy playing with Katie?
“We play a lot of different types of games together. Usually we mix, I end up playing with Meg [Walsh] and Chris [Pipe] plays with Katie [O’Hanlon], but it was so much fun.
“Of course I enjoyed it… we won! There’s nothing more to say there!"
It was nice to see you all out as a goalkeepers’ union, you seem to have a very strong bond?
“We have a really good group and a good chemistry as well. Everything works really well during training because we’re really competitive, but we’re also different people who work well together.
“Doing something like padel makes it even better because something’s always going to happen that’s unpredictable! And we had Jess [Ziu] playing with us today as well! It brings us together even more.”
It’s been a big summer for the goalkeepers. Firstly, Meg and Katie both extended their stays at the Club.
“I was very, very happy [to see them sign new contracts]. Going back home after the season, we didn’t know what was going to happen. When I found out they were both staying, I was so happy because last season was so good in terms of training, and the atmosphere in the group. That’s so important for us goalkeepers, as we spend so much time in our own group. Hopefully we can challenge each other to compete for even better standards.”
And you were at the Euros! What was it like to represent Poland at their first-ever major tournament?
“It was so good. The fact we all experienced that: the growth of women’s football, all of the fans that travelled to watch us. It was just incredible. When we entered the stadium for the first game and they played the national anthem with our families in the crowd, it was just crazy because you dream of that as a child - and there you are! It was amazing.
“Football-wise, it was a big lesson for us. We have to stay motivated, humble, and keep on building step by step.”
When you heard the national anthem, how did you feel?
“I was just so incredibly happy to be there because I realised how many obstacles I had to go through along the way to get to that point. There were a lot of moments of doubt, so for me to be standing there, playing with my national team at such a big tournament, it was a dream come true.”
It was a busy summer for you, did you manage to have a break?
“We had two weeks after the Euros to stay at home with our families, which was really nice. For the first week, I had zero power to do anything! I was just so tired because for the month before, everything was scheduled minute by minute.
“The two weeks after the Euros were the first two weeks in my career where I could just not play football. Because I came off the back of such a big tournament where I was training and training, I could now be active, but not necessarily with football. It let me reset my mind, so when I was coming back here (to West Ham), I was so excited. We have a really good team and atmosphere here, so I was ready.”
We’re under a month away from the season starting, what goals do you have for yourself and the team?
“First and foremost, I want to finish the season in a better place than last year, because we came so close to finishing higher up. The margin for error is so small, anything can cost you. So we have to stay consistent.
“I want to do better personally as well. I have my own goals that will hopefully help the team.”
