The smile is back on Ricarda Funk's face. She is having fun again. That also means she is back among the medals.
The German already has two gold medals at major competitions this year – the first of which will have a special place in her heart.
At the 2025 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships last month, the 33-year-old returned to exorcise the ghosts of the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, where she suffered a heartbreaking Olympic Games.
Click here for results from Pau
At Paris 2024, Funk arrived to defend her women's kayak title from Tokyo 2020, but fate had other plans.
“Competing in Paris again, after the big event and being back for the European Championships, which is also a big event, but nothing compared to the Olympic Games, I could still feel some kind of spirit,” Funk said.
“There was no big tribune. It looked quite small but somehow, I could feel the spirit and I delivered and had the run I was hoping for. It meant a lot to me that I could finally win a medal in Paris.”
Signs of a comeback were already visible soon after the Games. Funk went on to win the overall ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup trophy in K1. But behind the scenes, she was fighting battles only she truly understood.
This week, Funk opened her 2025 World Cup account with a K1 gold in Pau.
With the medals continuing to flow, the world and European champion has started looking ahead to LA28.
She’s also pleased that this year’s World Cup Final will take place on home waters.
“After Tokyo, my goal was clear: Paris. So, it was easy for me to switch back to training. But I can feel the difference now and it is quite a challenge,” she added.
“To motivate myself for the last two World Cups in 2024 was quite hard. You are wondering what next after you had this big goal taken away from you, and it was a new situation for me.
“I was talking to a sports psychologist. They helped me. Probably I am still in this process. I think talking is very important to process all that happened and have a new plan.
“I am thinking about LA. Of course, it will be great to come back stronger and finally have the Olympic Games I am dreaming of.
“The Olympic spirit and all the experience, combined with the sport and probably a medal. It would be a dream.”
At the Games in LA, Funk, who will be 36 years old, knows it won't be easy.
Among the few woman athletes in the circuit who only race the K1 and the kayak cross now, she said it is going to remain that way.
“Kayak cross was exciting at the Olympic Games. Sitting on this ramp, watching the crowd, my heart was beating. I was super nervous. You can’t plan what is going on. It was quite a challenge because I am used to racing only K1,” she said.
“Now, I must focus on two disciplines. But it is nice to have this event, it is important. The people like it. They like fighting and some action. When I started, the C1 was not Olympic. But now the girls are doing both, but I am too old to focus on another one.”
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
Join Planet Canoe's YouTube channel for €9.99 per month to unlock members-only content and features
Read YouTube's frequently asked questions for more details.
Related links
