GERMANY’S judo star Anna-Maria Wagner isn’t your everyday Olympian.
Wagner, 28, is set to be the flag bearer for her nation tonight alongside basketball star Dennis Schroder – who plays for the Brooklyn Nets.
Wagner picked up Olympic bronze at the 2020 Tokyo games, winning the medal in the individual 78kg category and the mixed team event.
But it’s not just her incredible ability on the mat that leaves fans in awe, but her personality away from the sport too.
The two-time world champion has amassed over 21,000 followers on Instagram and has also featured in some racy photoshoots.
Back in 2021, she stripped down to just a judo belt for a campaign with German outlet BILD.
And she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of re-opening that side of her career, teasing a potential collaboration with Playboy.
When asked by BILD if she would accept a proposal for a shoot with the famous magazine, she kept the door ajar.
Wagner said: “I wouldn’t rule that out. Let’s wait and see”.
But for now her focus is completely on Paris and achieving her dream of winning gold, explaining: “I want to become an Olympic champion.”
And her strength goes way beyond the judo mat, with her mental fortitude one of the main reasons she will be competing in France this summer.
Wagner suffered from depression after the highs of her Olympic triumph in Tokyo and has had to fight back from it to compete again this year.
Speaking ahead of the games she explained: “At the beginning, I had no desire to do judo or sport, I just wanted to stay at home.
“I didn’t go out much, but I also cried a lot for no reason. I was just not in a good mood.
“It was a very tough time and it took longer than I thought. I kept feeling better and then worse again. It was like a rollercoaster ride.
“But it always got a little bit better, and I would say that at the beginning of this year I was completely back, physically and mentally, and I’ve had a strong year so far.”
She’s not the only athlete to feel the same way with heroes such as Michael Phelps and Adam Peaty both opening up about their struggles with the intensity of the Olympics before.
Now Wagner has put herself in a great position to compete for medals once again and will do it as the flag bearer for her nation.
A childhood dream that she has described as a “big honour”.
