Flag bearer Wagner lands in the "shittiest place"
German Flag Bearer's Gold Dream Bursts: Anna-Maria Wagner Loses Bronze Fight Too
German top judoka Anna-Maria Wagner's hopes for gold or at least an individual medal at the Paris Olympics have been dashed. The two-time world champion lost her bronze match in the 78kg category against China's Ma Zhenzhao in a golden score. Her gold dream had already been dashed by her semi-final loss to Israel's Inbar Lanir, the world number three and former world champion.
"I wanted gold, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to come home with a medal," Wagner said tearfully into the ZDF microphone. "I think fifth place is the worst place you can have." A second bronze medal was awarded in the parallel bout, so there is no fourth place. The medal was within reach twice, but it wasn't enough in the end. "Judo can always be tough." Wagner had led on penalties but wanted to win through time. "She caught me clean, I stood for one second too long." There's no need to argue about the scoring.
Wagner, who carried the German flag with basketball star Dennis Schröder at the opening ceremony, had high ambitions for Paris. Three years after winning bronze in both individual and team events in Tokyo, she had her sights set on more medal success. She has one more chance in the mixed team event on Saturday.
The German Judo Federation is still at one medal in France. Miriam Butkereit won silver in the 70kg class on Wednesday. Wagner won her first two matches against Guinea's Marie Branser and Japan's Rika Takayama in the Champ-de-Mars arena, but couldn't come back after her semi-final loss to Lanir.
Role Model Beyond Sports
The opening ceremony last Friday was a highlight for Wagner. When she found out she would be carrying the German flag, she was overcome with joy. "It was a great experience," she said after the big show on the Seine. She enjoyed the atmosphere very much.
Wagner is seen as a role model beyond her sport. Alongside her successes, her open approach to her mental health struggles has earned her a lot of respect. After the Tokyo Games in 2021, she fell into a psychological hole, both physically and mentally exhausted. Corona made the situation worse. The exceptional athlete considered retiring early.
She cried a lot and spent days in bed, Wagner revealed in several interviews. She decided to make her post-Olympic depression public, explaining that it was a sign of strength for her. Her family, friends, and a sports psychologist helped her out of the valley, and Wagner fought her way back to the top of the judo world.
Wagner secured her second world title in Abu Dhabi in May, competing nationally in her weight class against the strong Alina Böhm. She missed out on her chance to crown her extraordinary journey of the past few years with another medal in Paris.
Wagner, who showcased her strength as a role model beyond sports by openly discussing her mental health struggles after the Tokyo Games, had originally hoped to add to her medal collection in Paris, having carried the German flag during the opening ceremony. Despite leading in penalties in her bronze match, she ultimately lost to her opponent, missing out on a second bronze medal.
Despite the disappointment of not winning a medal in the 78kg category, Wagner will have another chance to represent Germany in the mixed team event on Saturday, continuing her journey in Paris.
