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Vanessa Romanowski talks Polish Cup and the state of Swedish Muay Thai: ”Sweden is in the backwaters”
Vanessa Romanowski. Photo: Chris Önnerby
Vanessa Romanowski is one of the most promising Muay Thai fighters coming out of Sweden in the past few years. At 18 years of age, she’s already something of a veteran in the Muay Thai game.
Starting to compete on an international level as a 12-year-old, Romanowski built a lot of valuable experience fighting outside Sweden, going to competitions in countries like Romania, England and Italy.
This past weekend, she won the Polish Cup after participating on short notice.
”To compete in the tournament was a quite spontaneous decision,” Romanowski says in an exclusive interview with Frontkick. ”I was in good shape and I’ve been a lot in Poland lately since I got my citizenship in July. Fighting in the Cup was a good opportunity to use my new citizenship.”
”Like playing a video game”
Even though the 18-year-old didn’t plan to fight in the Polish Cup, she didn’t hesitate when the opportunity presented itself, and went all in right from the start of the finals.
”I started the final with a hard front kick and I saw from her reaction that it hit the spot. I just knew I had the fight from that moment, so I just continued fighting my fight,” Romanowski laughs.
”It was the first fight with my Polish coaches and we worked great together. They said that coaching me was like playing a video game, if they told me to do something I just did it right away.”
Photo via Instagram (@vanessa_romanowski)
Vanessa Romanowski has double citizenship
The Stockholm based fighter is currently participating in a training camp in Poland where she’s meeting boxers, bare-knuckle boxers, and Muay Thai fighters from all over the continent.
”I’ve had a good dialogue with the Polish National Muay Thai Team lately, they want me to represent them. Fighting is so much bigger in Poland, it feels like Sweden is in the backwaters compared to the rest of Europe.”
What do you think about the Swedish Muay Thai scene right now?
”There are a bunch of good fighters but it’s hard to evolve here. Outside of Sweden you can get one month’s salary from one single fight,” Romanowski says. ”Swedish Muay Thai is going the right direction though, MTFL is broadcasted by DAZN so people outside Sweden can watch the fights. But compared to other European countries, Muay Thai is moving slow here. In England there are events everywhere, fights 24/7. I would like to see more big events in Sweden, more often than a few times a year.”
”Muay Thai fighters needs more financial support”
The 18-year-old fighter has no explanation as to why the sport is still quite underground and overlooked in Sweden.
”I think everyone can enjoy combat sports. You don’t have to know the rules,” Romanowski laughs. ”The one who takes the biggest beating loses. That’s it!”
”Maybe it’s because combat sports in general are not as hyped here as abroad, but it’s fun to see the sport grow. For example, MMA promotion Allstars Fight Night has grown big quite fast. However, Swedish Muay Thai fighters needs more financial support. If you go to the World Cup, you still need to pay for some things out of you own pocket. It’s a shame, because you risk to lose a lot of good fighters that way.”
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