Kasia Wasick: Retired, Returned, and Racing to Gold
Kasia Wasick’s comeback is one of the most remarkable stories in modern swimming. She retired. She came back. Now she’s beating swimmers half her age. The oldest swimmer at the European Aquatics Championships, Kasia Wasick won gold and broke masters world records with her brothers.
Five-time Olympian and Polish national record holder Wasick sprinted to victory in the women’s 50-meter freestyle at the European Aquatics Championships. In front of a roaring home crowd, Wasick touched the wall in 23.20 to claim her first individual European gold medal—all while being the oldest competitor at the meet.
Then, unlike most professional swimmers, the 33-year-old stayed in Poland to race at the following Masters European Championships. Not only did she break masters records in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle, but, along with her two brothers, claimed the world masters record for the 4 x 50 mixed freestyle relay.
Evolving With the Sport
Originally retired in 2016, Wasick continues to push the boundaries of competitive swimming, proving that experience, strategy, and passion can compete with youth and raw speed.
“ I never thought I’d make it to another Olympics and then to another Olympics and still be in the game. But over the years, I’m definitely not the same athlete. I raced many generations, and I had to evolve every year to be the athlete I am right now, and I think next year I’m going to be a little bit different. But that’s the beauty of it,” Wasick said in a post-race interview.
“Even though I’m almost the oldest, I always try to learn from other swimmers–see how they do their warm downs and warm ups–but what’s best about this is I just get to race.”
Winning Gold in the Women’s 50 Freestyle
“ Winning my first individual gold medal at home in front of my family, in front of my people–that’s just incredible. I’m so happy,” Wasick says. ”I’m still super high on the whole week.”
Wasick led the short-course 50m freestyle from start to finish, hitting the 25m split at 11.17 seconds. France’s Beryl Gastaldello and Italy’s Sara Curtis pushed her to the wall, but Wasick out-touched both by 0.21 seconds for a final time of 23.2.
Wasick raced in 6 events total. Notably, she also won two bronze medals as part of the mixed 4x50m medley and the women’s 4x50m freestyle teams.
“The best thing was when I touched the wall, I didn’t even look at the scoreboard. I didn’t know the time but I knew I won because the crowd went nuts,” she laughs. “That was a beautiful moment that I will definitely carry with me through the rest of my career.”
Family Support and Emotional Moments
Not only did Wasick have the home crowd advantage, but her family was present, including her husband, who flew from Texas at the last minute to surprise her.
“My family was there in the stands. I mean, all my family–and my husband. He was a star. He originally wasn’t supposed to come to Poland because of work. He didn’t tell me he flew in for my race, so that was so emotional for me to have him and all of them there,” she says.
A Family World Record
While most of her peers returned home after the event, Wasick stayed in Poland, not just to visit with family–but to race with them. She entered the Masters European Championships, competing in the 50,100, and 200 meter freestyle, and relays. Not only did she end up setting records in all three events for the 30+ age group, but she and her brothers assembled a powerhouse relay team.
The dream Polish team of Kasia, Robert Wilk, Krzysztof Wilk, and 2024 Olympian Paulina Peda, raced in the 4x50m freestyle in a time of 1:35.72 to win and break the masters world record.
“Our dream was always to swim together in the relay,” Wasick shares. “So when it finally happened, it was just–we were laughing and smiling, and it was just such a fun memory.”
A Journey from NCAA Champion to European Champion
After moving to the United States in 2012 to attend the University of Southern California, Wasick pursued both elite swimming and her studies, becoming an NCAA champion while competing at the highest collegiate level. Following graduation, Wasick retired in 2016 due to a shoulder injury and life changes. Two years later, after racing at a local masters meet in Las Vegas, Wasick realized she still loved the sport.
That return reignited her career. Since then, Wasick has competed in two more Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the women’s 50m freestyle in Tokyo and Paris, reset Polish national records, won World Cup races, and now added European gold and masters world records to her résumé.
Wasick doesn’t regret her retirement. The time away gave her a positive perspective that powers her through every tough training session, every competition, and helps her constantly find joy in her sport. “I realized the whole journey is amazing. The chance I have to swim, to meet amazing people, enjoy time in the pool, what I’m doing, working with my body, and having fun. I want to enjoy it while it lasts,” she says.
Supported by THEMAGIC5
Throughout the second phase of her career, THEMAGIC5 has supported Wasick’s journey.
“I just hope our relationship can grow even bigger because THEMAGIC5 was the company that really believed in me before any international success, before I had an international medal. They approached me and wanted to sign me, and, for me, it was really special that someone believed in me from the beginning,” she says.
“It’s a very organic relationship. I love their product. I tested it before signing, and they gave me a chance to see if I liked it, but I fell in love with the goggles.”
Backed by Belief, Chasing a Sixth Olympics
Wasick raced Europeans in pink mirrored THEMAGIC5 goggles but hopes to return to her red “Kasia” special edition goggles for Los Angeles 2028.
”That’s definitely my goal. Obviously, I want to take one year at a time because I want to enjoy this podium, but it’s definitely my goal to go to my sixth Olympics,” she says.
“It’s going to be in Los Angeles, and that’s kind of where my career started. To be able to go to my college, maybe train there, and be in the city that I feel really good in, that’s something beautiful that I can do. So, yes, it’s definitely my goal, and I hope I can be in the best shape of my life there. The success at Europeans gave me a lot of confidence.”
THEMAGIC5 is proud to continue supporting Kasia Wasick as she chases Olympic dreams, breaks world records with her family, and proves that longevity, adaptability, and love for the sport can carry athletes further than anyone expects.
