Edina Müller: Gold heroine is going into the 2025 finals with huge anticipation!

Edina Müller: Gold heroine is going into the 2025 finals with huge anticipation!

What exciting times for para-canoeist Edina Müller from Hamburg! The 41-year-old, who is skilled in both wheelchair basketball and para canoeing, has very special plans for the next few months. After her gold triumph in London 2012 and in the single kayak at the Paralympics in Tokyo 2021, she will lead the German team as flag bearer to the Paralympics in Paris in 2024. Müller, who also works as a sports therapist, is already looking forward to the 2025 finals in Dresden, where she hopes to win a medal. “The atmosphere at the finals is always gigantic,” she enthuses in the current episode of the podcast “The Finals,” which is available on platforms such as Spotify, Apple and Deezer. She also emphasizes the importance of the participation of para canoeists in these finals, as this sends a significant signal for their sport. The competition begins for them in Hafencity on August 1st, and entry is even free!

The focus now also turns to the upcoming Canoe World Championships, which starts on August 1st in Halifax, Canada and lasts until August 7th. Müller will compete there in the para canoe category. Over 1,000 athletes, with and without disabilities, will gather to measure their strengths. Edina is considered the favorite in her discipline after her successes at the 2022 Paralympics and her victory at the first World Cup of the season. Nevertheless, the event also brings with it strong competition, particularly from Ukrainian Maryna Marzula, who is known for her skills.

Challenges and hopes

Every athlete has her challenges, and Edina has also suffered two minor injuries. But she is fit again in time for the World Cup. “The performance depends on many factors, after all, this is an outdoor sport,” explains Müller. This shows the immense pressure that the athletes are under while at the same time having to overcome the challenge of competing in an outdoor environment.

A forgotten chapter in para-sports history concerns the Paralympics themselves, which began in 1948 with the Stoke Mandeville Games for wheelchair athletes. The first official Paralympics in Rome in 1960 involved athletes with a wide range of disabilities. This year and next year will be crucial for many athletes, not only in terms of medals but also in raising awareness of Paralympic sport. Germany has good chances in the all-time medal table and takes third place, just behind the USA and Great Britain.

With her commitment, Edina Müller is not only a role model for many young athletes, but she also shows how important it is that the voices of female athletes are heard. "I want to do my best and I'm looking forward to the atmosphere at the finals. It's a great opportunity to showcase our sport and win new fans," she concludes with a smile.