There was a sense of venturing into the unknown when Great Britain’s Emma Wiggs took to the startline in Brandenburg.
For the first time in exactly 624 days, Wiggs was back in international competition.
But it was a “different Emma Wiggs”, says the three-time Paralympic champion. It was an Emma Wiggs that has spent more than year on the sidelines after undergoing shoulder surgery.
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“I felt a bit sick on the startline, and then I just looked across and saw all these people that I have spent so much time so it’s amazing to be back there,” said Wiggs.
The 45-year-old blew away the cobwebs to secure her place in the women’s VL2 final at the International Canoe Federation Paracanoe World Cup in Brandenburg.
It was the end of a “rocky” journey for Wiggs who had not competed on the global stage since coming away from Paris 2024 with two more Paralympic medals to add to her glittering collection.
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“I guess it has been 600 days filled with complications and curveballs and a real crisis in confidence,” said Wiggs.
“To have such a complicated rehab has been really tough.
“I have been so lucky to have a staff team that have really helped me.
“It’s been a rocky road so it means a lot to be able to have made it to this point and I would not done that without family but also all the staff team at Paddle UK.”
Wiggs had struggled with a persistent shoulder injury for 18 months ahead of the Paralympic Games.
But the British star put off surgery until after Paris 2024 where she won earned women’s VL2 gold and women's KL2 silver.
Wiggs went under the knife in October 2024 as she started her long journey to recovery.
“I had surgery on the shoulder where they took away some of the bone that had an overuse condition,” said Wiggs.
“It’s a different shoulder, it’s a different Emma Wiggs.
“I am excited to see what I can do when I line up on the startline, but it is also really emotional.
“I have spent over one third of my life lining up on Paracanoe startlines, so it feels really emotional to be back with the people that I have spent so much time with and I am really excited to get back out there and see what this version can do.”
Wiggs was in Milan for the ICF Paracanoe World Championships last year but not as a competitor.
She had swapped her paddle for a mic as she took her position in the commentary box and interviewed athletes in the mixed zone as part of the ICF’s coverage.
“I really enjoyed the opportunities of last year as well as the challenges of the rehab,” said Wiggs.
“To be able to be part of the broadcast team was amazing.
“It was interesting to see the sport from the other side.
“I felt a little bit lost at times, not knowing if I should be with the athletes or with the amazing media and broadcast team.
“It was a great opportunity, and I am really excited to be able to continue some of that work this year around the racing.”
Wiggs has returned at a time when intensity is increasing with Paralympic Ranking points now on offer.
She is looking aiming to secure a Paralympic quota for Great Britain as she seeks a place at Los Angeles 2028.
“My main goal for this competition in Brandenburg is to race the va’a,” said Wiggs.
“We are not racing kayak this time around.
“That’s not quite ready, it’s not quite in the place that we want it to be so we are going to stagger our international comeback, race the va’a and see where we are at against the incredibly talented athlete that will be lining up alongside me.
“LA is definitely, definitely on the horizon and certainly part of my plans so I am going to take it one wheel at a time.”
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