Iga Swiatek joins likes of Lionel Messi on TIME’s list of 100 Most Influential People of 2023
Iga Swiatek has been recognised for her incredible performances on and off the court over the past 12 months as she has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.
The world No 1 was selected in the ‘Pioneers’ category and she is one of only six athletes to feature on the annual list with footballers Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, basketball star Brittney Griner and NFL player Patrick Mahomes the other sports stars who have been recognised.
Swiatek was without a doubt the standout player on the WTA Tour last year as she rose to the top of the WTA Rankings in March and won the French Open and US Open to take her Grand Slam tally 37. She won eight titles in total and also enjoyed a 37-match winning streak from February until July.
Off the court the 21-year-old was also very vocal in her support for Ukrainian tennis players following Russia’s invasion of their home country in February last year. The Pole was part of several fundraising initiatives while she is a pioneer when it comes to highlighting the importance of looking after your mental health.
American Shiffrin, a close friend of Swiatek, wrote her profile in TIME Magazine.
“When Iga Swiatek plays tennis, three things come to mind: beauty, power, and truth. Throughout her rise to the top of tennis — and the top of sport — Iga has shown vulnerability and courage,” the skiing great wrote.
“She strives relentlessly to improve her game. She gives credit to those who have supported her, without discounting her own skills and work. She has advocated for mental health and supported Ukrainians in their fight to protect their home.
“As an athlete, and more importantly as a human, she embodies the kind of confidence that everyone should emulate — the confidence of action over mere talk.
“To rise to the top of tennis with the limited resources she had coming from Poland is remarkable. She has ignited a nation and given the next generation a reason to believe they can also achieve something incredible. She reminds us all that it’s OK to feel disappointment — and it’s also OK to feel proud of ourselves.”
Swiatek took to Twitter to thank both TIME and Shiffrin.
💯I have never thought that something like this will happen to me. Thank you @TIME for this incredible honor and recognition. And thank you @MikaelaShiffrin for your words. It means a lot.🙏🏼https://t.co/2gXozOd5mb
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) April 13, 2023
“I have never thought that something like this will happen to me. Thank you @TIME for this incredible honor and recognition. And thank you @MikaelaShiffrin for your words. It means a lot,” she tweeted.
