Anna-Maria Wagner announces Retirement from Judo in 2025

Double World Champion and Olympic bronze medallist Anna-Maria Wagner has officially announced that 2025 will mark the end of her competitive judo career. The 27-year-old German fighter shared the news on her social media, expressing that the time had come for a new chapter in her life.

After many years in competitive sport, the time has come: my head, my body, and my heart are longing for a change," Wagner wrote. "I will reveal what this year has in store for me bit by bit—so stay tuned! There are not only battles waiting, but also great projects that I will share with you. But one thing is for sure, I'll be giving it my all again and preparing for the upcoming fights."

Her farewell season will begin on April 12 with the start of the women’s 1st Bundesliga, where she will once again represent TSG Backnang. Wagner also took the opportunity to bid farewell to Cologne, her home for the past 8.5 years.  

Wagner's career is filled with remarkable achievements, including two World Championship titles (2021 in Budapest and 2024 in Abu Dhabi) and an Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. She also secured gold at the prestigious Paris Grand Slam in 2024, adding to her collection of eight Grand Slam titles, three Grand Prix wins, and 26 IJF World Judo Tour medals.  

From her early days as European Junior Champion in 2016 and European U23 Champion in 2017, to her European senior bronze medals in 2018 and 2024, Wagner has consistently proven herself among the best in the sport.  

As she prepares for her final competitions, Wagner remains focused on giving her all one last time, while also teasing new projects beyond the tatami. Her departure marks the end of an era for German judo, but her legacy in the sport is firmly established.