Interview with World Paddle Awards Academy member Birgit Fischer

Video interview in German: Marion Buk-Kluger | Translation to English: Ulla Fischer | Video production: Gijs Takken

Welcome Birgit Fischer- 8 fold Olympic champion and 27 fold World champion. I am always impressed when meeting such successful people. You were probably surrounded by many fans most of the time. Did you also have some time to relax after the awards ceremony, or were you ensnared by admirers and ask for pictures all the time?  
A bit of both.  I relaxed while having a cold beer, but there were many selfie- requests as well. I also met many old friends and young paddlers, which was very nice. I enjoy being amongst like-minded people.

Today, we witnessed a world premiere with the World Paddle Awards. For this purpose, an academy, similar to the one of the Oscars in Hollywood, was put together of which you are a member. How was it for you when you were asked to become a member and be able to co-decide nominees and winners?
I think paddling has been Oscar- adequate for a long time already. We only have not succeeded in bringing ourselves to the public in recent years. Now, Rob van Bommel created this beautiful event here in Augsburg. Paddlesport is so diverse and it can basically be practiced by anyone between 0 to 100 years. Everyone is welcome and every person will find the right discipline with over 15 to choose from. It is wonderful that the World Paddle Award honoured several of those disciplines and I hope this does not remain a one- time event.  I also heard many people saying they would love to host the World Paddle Awards in the future. I hope it continues and I will carry on with the support from my side. 

This is a chance to make people aware of the sport. Being from Augsburg, I realized that our city has produced many Olympic champions and other great athletes.  We also have a nice white water course. However, the interest in the sport is very selective. For example during the Olympic Games when Birgit Fischer and Co win a medal, but afterwards it vanishes again and is unnoticed. Is an event like the World Paddle Awards able to change that and increase awareness for the sport amongst the public?
The World Paddle Award can definitely contribute in spreading the word and bringing it to the public. The sport itself is very attractive. However, we have few lobbyism and self- marketing. Canoeists are no self- promoter and usually rather quiet people. The sport happens mainly outdoors and far from the public. We are never at one point for long and move across great distances, what hampers being photographed or filmed. Nevertheless, great camera work is often done at the race and white water courses. Being brought like that right into the living rooms of the viewers makes people enthusiastic about the sport. 

I personally think the commentatorship via TV often brings the sport closer to the public compared to being live at the race course, where the happenings can only be witnessed partially.

As a journalist, I think the most charming about paddlers is that they all remained so down to earth. That is great for my work because there are not 3 or 4 bodyguards and managers around the athlete that forbid giving interviews.  It is a pity that it seems to be exactly this openness that prevents this sport from being marketed better.
Nonetheless, I believe it should remain like this-paddlers around the world should continue being reachable for media and fans alike. I only wish more stories would be told about these athletes. They are often family men and women or students that paddle. During my career I have been a single mother of two as well.  The individual stories behind the athletes should be captured more often, those are always very interesting. Not only have the men great bodies- and the women too- but much can be told about those people as well. I think there is plenty unrecognized potential in this sport but we also have not done much for our public image in the past years. The media is seeking for self- publicists and that is usually not the typical athlete in paddle sports.

Now back to you. As Germanys most successful Olympic champion, what would you say was the most eventful that happened during your Olympic career?
Well, I have been successful at 6 Olympic Games. It was not always pretty or easy. In Atlanta it was difficult to get to the race course and the Olympic village wasn’t all that pretty. Barcelona was one of the nicest games and the Olympic village in Seoul, 1988, was great. There are always good things and bad things and good games and bad games. If you ask me about the medals however, I have to tell you that I value them all equally. It would be like asking me which of my children I like better. I worked hard and fought for all of them. Behind every medal there is a beautiful story, but it was always eventful and exciting.

With what or when did you struggle most during your Olympic career?
The Olympic Games 1996 in Atlanta were very hard for me as my father had just passed away shortly beforehand. The games just rolled by and they were also not the most successful with one gold and one silver medal. I believe it is crucial that the private conditions are right and the social environment fits, otherwise it becomes hard to be successful. It is important so surround oneself with the right people. All my life it worked out quite well except at those games in Atlanta.

Except of the right social environment, what kind of tips do you have for young paddlers?
One needs to be willing to work hard and eager to win. They should enjoy testing out new things and be open to work on and with themselves. Of course having fun is also vital.

I wish you lots more fun in your sports. It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you Birgit Fischer