Status: 25.07.2024, 09:57

By: Korbinian Kothny

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Olympic flag bearer Anna-Maria Wagner wanted to give up everything. With a lot of patience, the judo world champion brought her body and mind back into harmony.

Paris – “A call that will stay forever.” On Tuesday (July 23), Anna-Maria Wagner learned that she would lead the German delegation as flag bearer at the Olympic opening ceremony. The judo world champion was filmed during the call and ultimately could not hold back her tears.

Anna-Maria Wagner: First the flag, then the competition

“When I found out, I was speechless,” said the 28-year-old, who had rushed straight from the train station to the German home in the Stade Jean-Bouin. “I will only really realise this when I hold the flag in my hand.” That will be the case on Friday (26 July).

“I want to separate the two: First enjoy the celebration and soak it all in. Then make a cut and focus on my competition,” she said. Because on August 1, Wagner wants to finally end the most difficult phase of her life.

Anna-Maria Wagner also conquered her own doubts. © IMAGO/Laci Perenyi READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Existential fears after the 2021 Olympics for Anna-Maria Wagner

The two-time judo world champion will carry the German flag on Friday with ease. Compared to the burden that almost broke her. “Maybe I’m not meant to carry on anymore. Maybe I’ll feel better if I stop,” the voice in her head said, she told SWR.

Existential doubts as an Olympic souvenir: Three years ago in Tokyo, Wagner won bronze in the individual and team events, she had already become world champion before – as well as this year. But after Tokyo, she slipped into a real crisis, creeping but unstoppable. In autumn 2021, there was this emptiness. “I didn’t feel like doing any sports or doing anything,” she reported, she cried for no reason.

Germany’s greatest Olympic heroes

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Anna-Maria Wagner fights her way out of depression

The low point was a corona infection in early 2022: quarantine, sadness, the overwhelming power of dark thoughts. “That took the ground from under my feet,” says Wagner. For a week she hardly left her bed, “I just lay there.” The thought of quitting grew, was powerful.

But Wagner found another way out, she sought help from a sports psychologist, wrote her thoughts away, even publicly. And at some point the steely physique and the soft-as-a-wool psyche became one again. Depression had accompanied her “for a very long time, but now it is far away,” she says: “It was a long fight back.” A fight that will now be rewarded at the opening ceremony… (kk/sid)

2024-07-25 08:32:42
#Olympic #flag #bearer #AnnaMaria #Wagner #won #biggest #fight

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Pallacanestro Trieste salutes and thanks Giancarlo Ferrero for this incredible season spent together.

One of the protagonists of Trieste’s return to the top flight bids farewell to the city that welcomed him with the love that only Trieste can give. A player capable of conquering this place with his passion, his kindness and his leadership.
Michael Arcieri, Gianca’s friend before becoming the team’s General Manager, wanted to say goodbye to him with these words:

“My greatest fortune in Italian basketball has been living every single day with Giancarlo Ferrero on our team. Players are not only called to perform, but also to lead, inspire and bring joy to every person they meet. Every three-pointer Giancarlo made was worth four points; every charge he suffered was equivalent to three consecutive defensive stops. He signed every autograph, spoke to every class of students, and even after the most painful losses, he gathered his teammates to go around the court and thank the crowd that adored him. It is thanks to the brilliance of his character and his three-pointers at crucial moments that Trieste is preparing for the next season in Serie A. He will always be my Captain. Thirteen months ago we ate a pizza together, promising to do something special. This wonderful sport has rewarded this left-handed shooter in the fairest way possible. Regardless of the jersey he may wear in the future, Trieste will always be his home, and the white and red will always be his colors.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART GIANCA!

2024-07-25 07:42:45
#GIANCA #Basketball #Trieste

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If Rapid overcomes the hurdle of Wisla, they would face the winner of Trabzonspor (TUR) against Ruzomberok (SVK). If they are knocked out, they would continue playing in the third Conference League qualifying round against the promoted team from FK Sarajevo (BIH) against Spartak Trnava (SVK). Reaching a European Cup group stage is one of Rapid’s major goals, as coach Robert Klauß also confirmed.

“We’re up for it, we definitely want to go there because we can develop our players there and because it is of course a source of financial income for us as a club and a platform on which we can present ourselves,” said the German.

Preview: Qualifying matches of the Austrian clubs

For both of Vienna’s major clubs, Austria and Rapid, the football season begins on Thursday with away games. While the “Violets” have to travel to Finland for the Conference League qualification, the Green-Whites are travelling to Poland for the Europa League qualification.

“I hope we win a lot of games”

Given these advantages, they would gladly accept English weeks. “I like playing a lot, playing every three days. That’s what we worked for last season and now in the summer, to be ready,” said Klauß.

It is positive that the squad was put together early, “because we start very early with important games. That also defines the autumn for us to a certain extent, what happens in the next few weeks in the qualifying round. We are really looking forward to that. I hope that we win a lot of games,” explained the coach.

Europa League

qualification

Europa League qualification Second round, first leg:

6 p.m., live on ORF1

Krakow – Rapid

Henryk-Reyman-Stadion, SR El-Emara (FIN) READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Possible lineups

Wisla: Chichkan – Jaroch, Uryga, Colley, Mikulec – Sapala, Carbo – Baena, Gogol, Sukiennicki – Rodado

Rapid: Hedl – Bolla, Cvetkovic, Raux-Yao, Auer – Jansson, Sangare, Grgic, Seidl – Burgstaller, Beljo

Possible favorite role

Although Klauß had to accept the short-term absence of the sick Louis Schaub and Nikolas Sattlberger, he looked back on what he described as a “good transfer period”. “It’s not so much about the players now, but rather that we were finished with everything relatively early. We were able to sign the players with whom we had been in contact and in contact for a long time. I think that a few processes are already working quite well.”

Rapid can provide its first proof of the truth against a traditional club that currently only plays in the second Polish league and qualified for the European Cup by winning the cup. They are “probably” the favorites, Klauß suspected. “We accept the role, but I believe that the opponent should not be underestimated under any circumstances. It is a big task, especially away from home, because we are playing in front of a large crowd. There will be loud support, just a good atmosphere. But we are looking forward to it.”

Wisla with strong offensive

Klauß described Wisla as a team “that has its strengths in attack with two or three really good players.” The club from Krakow won the first qualifying round against the Kosovar runner-up KF Llapi 2-0 (home) and 2-1 (away). However, these matches were “not really meaningful,” Klauß stressed. “How much quality did the opponent have? How far were they challenged? The games were very clear in Krakow’s favor. We know what to expect in terms of content, we will see how high the quality is in the end. I still believe that we will be challenged.”

Klauß and his protégés took off from Vienna-Schwechat Airport on Wednesday morning with a delay of around two hours. Around 25,000 spectators are expected at the Henryk Reyman Stadium in Krakow, with around 700 Rapid fans travelling from Austria.

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