Aside from being an elite tennis star, four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek is unabashedly Polish. She might also be many other things, but it’s clear her cultural roots in Central/Eastern Europe take precedence.
Yes, even above her play on the court.
That’s why it’s no surprise to see Świątek championing strawberries and pasta (or, translated: “makaron z truskawkami”) during the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. The dish is a Polish staple. Świątek grew up Polish and understands what she can and can’t eat for peak athletic performance. So, it’s easy to do the math. For those of you who reside and grew up stateside, I’m sure it’s a bit of a culture shock. You’re probably not used to seeing this combination on a plate.
But c’mon now. Admit it. While different from your background, eating rudimentary carbohydrates, some form of dairy, and a delicious fruit certainly has to be one of the least offensive food items you’ve ever seen. Let’s all take a deep breath:
Iga Swiatek shares a photo of her favorite meal, pasta and strawberries.
Good Lord. 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/blLVxdR1Jo
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 5, 2025
As a Polish person myself, I find it heartwarming to see Świątek highlight only a small fragment of our culture for the sports world.
Growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s, I remember being fed strawberries and pasta on a semi-regular basis. At the very least, it was suggested more often than you’d think compared to the standard culturally American household (read: zero). Eventually, while it was strange for a child to witness the first time, it’s not hard to rationalize and accept. If you think about it, it’s basically cereal with fruit (and often sugar) mixed in.
It’s an imperfect comparison, but consider this: the next bowl of Frosted Flakes or Cheerios you eat with strawberries, bananas, or whatever on top is functionally the same as strawberries and pasta. We’re not talking about peanut butter and mayonnaise here, dearest readers. Get a grip.
No one’s quite positive about the exact origins of putting strawberries and pasta together like this.
My mom used to explain that it was something my grandma made for her when she grew up in Poland. I never thought too much about it then. But now, I see that the most common and logical explanation centers around resource conservation at the height of Soviet occupation in the country. For context, I still sometimes hear stories about how getting an orange and a portion of chocolate for Christmas was a quintessential gift for children in that era. When living in extreme poverty like that, you grow more adaptable to improving living conditions. You get creative about concocting delicious dishes from otherwise seemingly unconventional means.
Anything to make life more palatable for your family.
The cool part about strawberries and pasta is that it’s no longer considered a sugary balm to endure a time of struggle. It’s a cultural touchstone, a delightful treat that Polish families have integrated into their kitchens all the time to this day. It has evolved into something so much more.
And hey, if Świątek keeps eating strawberries and pasta while charging forward toward her hopeful first-ever Wimbledon title, I can’t help but see it as a good luck charm.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Iga Świątek eating strawberries and pasta at Wimbledon is normal and very Polish