Together with photographer Lorraine Hoffmann, she has 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 m, from the glow of Olympic medals to the quiet, often unseen moments of personal struggle.
Anna-Maria Wagner is the only German judoka to have won two world championship titles. Her greatest achievements include:
- Olympic bronze medals in both individual and team competitions at the Tokyo Games in 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.
What does the daily life of a top athlete really look like beyond medals and podia? What happens between the training halls, rehab sessions, competition mats and moments of exhaustion?
These questions marked the beginning of an extraordinary project. What began with a single email, turned into an intense 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.
‘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 will support the Home of Athletes initiative which provides young athletes with access to sport-specific psychological support, a cause close to Anna-Maria’s heart.
The photo book was released on 5th May in a high-quality hardcover edition, available online at: www.mybuchdruck.de/anna-maria-wagner-bildband.
Photographer Lorraine Hoffmann not only captured the journey through her lens but also shaped the project conceptually, textually and visually, taking the full creative lead. For printing and distribution, support came from SSM Agency for Sport Brands, known for its emotional brand of storytelling and athlete management, a 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. This isn’t a book just for judo fans, but for anyone who wants to see the person behind the performance. It’s a powerful visual journey that inspires, encourages and reminds us: sometimes, the path matters more than the destination.