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.