The result at the World Cup in Poznań was a 1st place in the B-final, which translated to 10th place overall. For me, this was a disappointment. The level of competition didn’t seem extremely high, so I set off with the ambition of reaching the A-final. I certainly gave it my all and, given the circumstances, I believe I raced my best possible race at that moment. However, this only made the final result more frustrating for me.

The emotions I experienced afterwards made me reflect deeply. I found little joy in racing and its preparation. Partly because I felt I hadn’t done enough high-quality K1 sessions to perform at my best in the K1 500m. Right now, my performance in the K1 just isn’t where it should be.

I realized I was putting immense pressure on myself. A pressure to perform, but more importantly, a pressure not to disappoint myself. The feeling that I had to keep pushing forward despite all the setbacks I faced. I have always been resilient, so I kept going. Reflecting on the mentally tough winter, I began to question whether all the effort had been worth it.

I concluded that the emotions I was experiencing would not form the foundation for a successful performance. These are not the feelings I usually have during a season. This season was supposed to bring out the best version of myself, ready to embark on a new cycle. Despite the motivation I had at the start of the season, I realized I was not heading in that direction.

Therefore, I have decided to end this season early. I need a period of rest and rejuvenation to recover from last year’s disappointment. A time free from pressure. A time to rediscover my love for the sport and racing, and to return to the basics of my career. To spend time with the people I love. To engage with the club that has given me so much. A period to reignite the smoldering embers into a fierce flame once again.

I won’t be resting on my laurels. I’ll be mentally rejuvenating but also ensuring that I am physically better than ever next year. I will use this period to critically and calmly analyze various aspects. To talk to people and seek advice. To discover what I can still achieve and to understand what I will be striving for in the coming years.