With 2025 marking her final year on the judo mat, Anna-Maria Wagner is making one last powerful statement before stepping away from elite sport: a photo book that goes far beyond a simple retrospective of her athletic achievements.
Together with photographer Lorraine Hoffmann, she spent two years working intensely on this project. The result is a visual diary capturing the remarkable journey of one of Germany’s most successful judoka – from the glow of Olympic medals to the quiet, often unseen moments of personal struggle.
Germany’s Only Double World Champion in Judo
Anna-Maria Wagner is the only German judoka to win two world championship titles. Her greatest achievements include:
- Olympic bronze medals in both individual and team competitions at Tokyo 2021
- World Championship titles in 2021 and 2024
- One of her personal highlights: carrying the German flag at the Olympic Games in Paris, which also marks the emotional conclusion of the photo book.
Two Years, 250 Travel Days, 30 Flights – A Dream in Motion
What does the daily life of a top athlete really look like – beyond medals and podiums? What happens between the training halls, rehab sessions, competition mats, and moments of exhaustion?
These questions marked the beginning of an extraordinary project.
What started with a single email turned into an intensive journey through 250 days on the road, 19 training camps, 15 competitions, over 30 flights – and ultimately 2.5 terabytes of photographic material capturing the essence of giving everything for the dream of the Olympics.
More Than a Book – A Statement
“In the End, It All Pays Off” is more than a sports book. It’s a tribute to mental strength, resilience, and the realities behind the spotlight.
It makes space for the quiet phases, especially the time after the Olympics, when Anna-Maria candidly addresses her experience with post-Olympic depression.
A portion of the proceeds supports the Home of Athletes initiative, which provides young athletes with access to sport-specific psychological support – a cause close to Anna-Maria’s heart.
Available Now
The photo book will be released on May 5th in a high-quality hardcover edition.
Available online at: www.mybuchdruck.de/anna-maria-wagner-bildband. For the price of: 41.95 euros.
From Idea to Book – A Collaborative Passion Project
Photographer Lorraine Hoffmann not only captured the journey through her lens but also shaped the project conceptually, textually, and visually – taking full creative lead.
For printing and distribution, support came from SSM – Agency for Sport Brands, known for its emotional brand storytelling and athlete management, and long-time partner of Anna-Maria. SSM brought in the perfect production partner: Print Simply GmbH (www.mybuchdruck.de), specialists in premium book printing with a deep understanding of sports, storytelling, and quality.
What unites everyone involved? A passion for what they do – and a shared standard of always giving their very best.
A book not just for judo fans, but for anyone who wants to see the person behind the performance.
A powerful visual journey that inspires, encourages, and reminds us: sometimes, the path matters more than the destination.
Author: German Judo Federation
Feature Image: Lorraine Hoffman
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen