Since Michael Wagner completed his first training at RSC Inzing in 2000, as he himself says, he “could no longer live without wrestling and spent his childhood instead of in the sandpit throwing his opponents to the mat in a fair fight. Since then he has been able to celebrate numerous national and international successes, including third place at the European Championships, winning seven World Cup medals and being national champion five times. Now, 17 years later, he is constantly preparing for his big goal, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the following interview he tells you what he has experienced along the way, how he got into wrestling in the first place and how the Phantom training mask has changed the way he prepares for the demands of his sport.

How did you get into wrestling? Isn't that a less common sport?

Michael Wagner: I come from a community with 4,000 residents. A kind of small “Gallic village” and wrestling has always had a kind of tradition in our town; every local person was in one of the wrestling clubs as a child. There were regular performances at elementary school, and I watched them once when I was 8 years old. Because I wanted to spend more time with my friends, who were all already in the wrestling club, I joined.

 

What happened next for you?

Michael Wagner: Of course, I went to club training regularly and discovered my love for this sport. I also had a lot of strength from an early age, which was an advantage for me. In 2006 I was able to draw attention to myself with my first Austrian youth championship title and other successes, which is how I got into the youth national team.

 

How can one imagine the time that followed?

Michael Wagner: Of course it was all very demanding. At the sports school we had training seven times a week, went to the training camp and whatever else went with it. But it was a lot of fun. You live for your sport.

 

Then came…?

Michael Wagner: The Federal Army. I was also involved in competitive sports. During this time I also completed the majority of my trainer training. However, I was unlucky not to be extended and fell out of the system completely and had no sponsors or other support on the sporting side. Although I continued to train at a professional level, competed and wanted to stay true to the sport, it was not an easy time.

 

You are now in the police's top sports group. How did you get there?

Michael Wagner: At that time I was lucky that the squad was being re-advertised at exactly the same time that I was hanging in the air. That doesn't happen that often. I was then able to prevail as one of nine against applicants from all over Austria. That was my “salvation” so to speak.

 

This means you can now easily combine sport and work?

Michael Wagner: Without any exaggeration, the police are a great employer. I can mainly focus on wrestling and go through training at the same time.

 

You fight professionally, so you don't have much time besides training, but do you still have other hobbies?

Michael Wagner: When it comes to installing it, I'm someone who really enjoys going on vacation. Just put your feet up and do absolutely nothing, just relax. I complement my girlfriend really well, we make a great team when it comes to things like this.

What would you consider your greatest achievement so far?

Michael Wagner: Second place at the World Cup was really great for me. And then in the same year, first place at the World Cup in Spain.

 

And your biggest defeat or low?

Michael Wagner: That was definitely the end of the army for me. I had no idea what to do next. I also had various infections and injuries, was also out of all systems and had no support. Fortunately, things have changed again now, thanks in part to Phantom Athletics .
But I fought for a long time, those were tough weeks.

However, I would also describe overcoming this time as a great success for me. A time like this makes you mentally stronger, you know that nothing can beat you down so easily

 

What is your next big goal?

Michael Wagner: First of all, of course, the World Cup, which is just around the corner, so to speak. But this is actually just another milestone on the way to my big goal, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

What is your motivational tip?

Michael Wagner: Pursue your goals, do everything you can to achieve them, even if it takes effort.

And: “fight4success”. That's something all of us wrestlers have in common. You fight from a young age, and at some point you carry that into your life. Don't give up and stand up for your dreams, come what may.

 

Are you currently in the very last phase before the World Cup?

Michael Wagner: Yes, that's why my training effort has been extremely reduced, especially this week. Now all that matters is being in top shape in Paris.

 

Otherwise, how can one imagine a regular training week with you?

Michael Wagner: This always varies quite a bit, depending on whether I'm on the course. During the preparation phase I usually train twice a day, with one rest day per week. I usually do one workout at medium or low intensity and then do the other at high intensity.

 

How did you first become aware of the Phantom training mask?

Michael Wagner: I have had a special relationship with Phantom Athletics for a long time because they accepted me into their team of athletes. That was almost unbelievable for me. There's actually nothing like that in my sport. As a result, I have been supported by them with equipment for a long time.

When the idea for developing the Phantom training mask came up internally at Phantom Athletics , I was brought on board to actively participate in the development.
Together with other athletes we tested, rejected, improved countless prototypes and so on...
In the end, the current Phatom training mask came out, as everyone knows it today and I have remained loyal to it ever since and have included it in my training.

And how is training going with her?

Michael Wagner: Even though I've been training with it since day 1, it continues to push me to my limits. I'm someone who likes to test myself, but even today I often think to myself, "That's pretty tough," especially at level 4, I often have the feeling: "I'm about to be knocked out." However, I also notice today Over 2 years of training with the Phantom training mask, still improvements.

 

How did you initially go about increasing the intensity?

Michael Wagner: I'm someone who can torture myself well, so I started at level 3, was mainly running with her at the beginning and then went up to 4 in the last few meters.

What is your favorite workout with her?

Michael Wagner: As I already said, I use them very intensively for running training, jumping rope, training with battle ropes and similar functional fitness things.

Was your “most intense” experience with the Phantom training mask?

Michael Wagner: That was while running. I have my regular route through a forest with us. The finale is quite steep up a mountain. Otherwise I'm always up to level 3 and that was pretty demanding. This time, however, I really wanted to know, so I set it to 4 shortly beforehand and then ran up there. The whole time I really had to force myself not to touch the PRS and my head kept pounding: “Now it's going to kill me”. But it was cool to go through with it anyway.

 

How many times a week do you train with it?

Michael Wagner: This also depends on the training phase and what type of training I do for it. Especially when running and fitness training.

 

The mask is for me...?

Michael Wagner: ...a very interesting tool that helped me increase and intensify my training again.

 

Would you say you were able to benefit from the Phantom training mask in wrestling?

Michael Wagner: In any case. Above all, the psychological strength you gain is enormous. When wrestling, there are always oxygen shortages where you imagine you're running out of air. On the other hand, I was able to breathe much deeper.

It should also be said that I always had difficulty breathing when I exercised because I actually have a congenitally reduced lung volume. This is something that is now a thing of the past.

In addition, my regeneration has become more efficient and I am fit again quickly, even after high-intensity demands. It helps me perform better, which is why it is an ideal complement for me.

Did the Phantom training mask also support you with regard to the World Cup?

Michael Wagner: ii'm at the best fitness level I've ever been. Of course I trained extremely hard and a lot for this, but the mask certainly also played its part.

 

If you also want to improve your physical and mental abilities to push your body to peak athletic performance, you should take a look at our Phantom training mask!

 

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