Anna Johanna Nilsson announces her break
Anna Johanna Nilsson is stepping away from the tatami to focus on her life outside of competition.
Swedish karate star Anna Johanna Nilsson is stepping away from the tatami. After 20 years of intense training and two European Championship bronze medals (2023 & 2025), she announced her well-deserved break in a recent Instagram post.
"After 20 years of training, and almost 9 years of competing at the highest senior level, I have decided to take a break from the sport. Whether it’s a short, or long one, is something I have yet to decide. I’m certain that this is the right decision for me, especially after considering it carefully for a long time.
It has been an amazing journey, but I no longer find joy in the sport itself, aside from time spent with friends and teammates. However, I don’t believe that social connection alone is enough motivation for me to continue competing at a high level with the amount of work it requires, especially when it comes at the expense of other areas of my life, and I’m not someone who does things half-heartedly.
Again, it’s not a definite goodbye but perhaps a see you again 👋🏻❤️"