News

35-year-old Urša Kragelj decided to take on new life challenges and put the paddle in a corner. The decision was not an easy one, but it was greatly helped by a serious injury that she suffered during training before the World Cup in Bratislava in 2019, which later caused her to feel pain while paddling.

 

“This decision has been growing for quite some time. Even before the Olympic Games in Tokyo I started to decide whether I would continue to Paris or not. Maybe my body was just telling me that enough is enough, that the demands of top sport are a little too hard. The decision was natural, I am at peace with it. At the same time, I am looking forward to the new challenges that will come my way. Of course, I will remain connected to kayaking and I hope that I will remain in canoeing, perhaps in other areas,” said Urša.

 

The decision to end sports career came after careful consideration:”I devoted twenty, twenty-five years of my life to this sport. A change of environment, an experience in a completely new field is something that a person is afraid of, but it is something necessary. The transition was not difficult. I went gradually. There are advantages and disadvantages, even being a top athlete is difficult and has its own challenges, and so does another job. I wouldn't say that one is more difficult than the other.”

 

During her career, Urša won fifteen medals at World and European Championships, in senior, U23 and junior age groups, and at World Cup races. She won two bronze team medals at the senior World Championships in 2010 and 2013, at the home European Championships in Ljubljana in 2017 she was member of golden women’s kayak team, and in addition she also won two individual medals at the Championships of the Old Continent (silver in 2016 and bronze in 2010).

 

She was the first Slovenian female Canoe Slalom paddler to win an individual medal at the senior’s championships, she was also the first Slovenian female canoe slalomist with a World Cup medal and a victory in the World Cup. She won the World Cup in 2012, and a year earlier she won the first Slovenian women's medal at the Canoe Slalom World Cup (bronze in Tacen). In addition, she was third in the World Cup three times. In 2012, she celebrated the overall tile in World Cup series.

 

She was also very successful among junior and U23s. In 2006, she became the junior World Champion, also the first Slovenian to win this title, later Eva Terčelj and Eva Alina Hočevar joined her. In the same year, Urša also won bronze at the Junior European Championship. The medal’s collection was completed by three medals from the U23 European Championships.

 

And which success is the most memorable? “The win at the Junior World Championships for sure. It was my first big goal, a dream that came true. I would also point out medals here in Tacen, medals at home, on Soča River. The victory in the World Cup in La Seu d'Urgell also remained close to my heart. When I think of it, my heart is warm.”

 

For several years, she lived on the road from race to race, from training to training, giving up many things in pursuit of her sporting dream, which in 2016 also took her to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Although we did not see her at the international level last season, she appeared at home race. “What I miss the most is water, and I also know that I will miss it the most. That noise. I like to get back around the water, I still like to go paddling, unfortunately my physical abilities are not what they used to be, but I still enjoy paddling and the water immensely, also watching and following this sport. I hope that in the future I will also have the opportunity to provide expert commentary atthe biggest canoe slalom competitions. You will certainly see me in Tacen, along the Soča and other rivers," Urša said.

 

She made sure that the leap into a 'new' life would be as easy as possible by successfully completing her studies, and in new work challenges. "I started working in a new job, where I work on sustainable projects. This is a new challenge for me, after completing my translation studies, I completed a master's degree in marketing. I want to add my part to society and working on sustainable projects makes me very happy. I hope that I will also do something related to marketing in sports. I'm looking forward to what's to come,” concluded Kragelj.