Marika Wagner

– Race experience

Marika Wagner is one of Sweden’s most experienced and versatile endurance athletes, with a career built on resilience, determination, and world-class performance across multi-day racing, adventure racing, and swimrun. She has completed some of the toughest events in the world, including multiple Adventure Racing World Championships spanning 150–170 hours, where she has consistently delivered strong results and demonstrated exceptional durability and teamwork.

– Why do you want to participate in One Water Race?

I’ve been thinking a lot about my WHY. Why do I want to do this race again? Is solely “to reach the lighthouse” good enough as a reason for me? Revenge doesn’t speak to me. Then when the film from 2024 was released and the application opened, I did not have to think any more. I could feel the thrill and the desire to be out there with my team. We had such a good game going in 2024 and I want to put that to the full test and, most of all, experience the great fun and feelings of the second night and third day.

– Have you taken a similar challenge before?

One Water Race 2023, 2024 and 2025, and several other multi-day races in various terrain.

– What are your strengths?

I deeply believe that everything is possible and the only way is forward. In my mind I never fight the thought of quitting; it’s simply not there. This gives me a unique mental strength that I’ll use to help the team.

– What are your weaknesses?

Being weak and vulnerable. This puts me in a state where I’m not able to perform at my best, but I have never felt as safe as in this team. Going through what I was through last year was incredibly hard but also strengthening, for me and for us as a team. We keep developing our navigation skills and confidence, and we know this will still be an extremely important part of the race where we lack some experience.

– What would be your biggest challenges in this race?

To balance our drive forward with taking care of ourselves, especially keeping stress away from our team.

– Have you been to the Stockholm archipelago and what do you know/think about the terrain?

Lots and lots of swimrun racing and training adventures in the archipelago.

– What are you most looking forward to, if you would participate in One Water Race?

Looking forward to the preparations and the whole process of making myself grow and training together with the team. It’s a true honor to learn from these absolutely fantastic friends. I’m looking forward to being out there working together with navigation and mindset, the intensity of the start, the striving during the later parts of the race, all the small victories along the way, and having so much fun with great friends. And ultimately, the feeling of laying our hands on the lighthouse door.