Back in his home town of Silkeborg, Mads Brandt Pedersen is putting in the hard yards both on and off the water.
After eight years living in Bagsvaerd near Copenhagen, Pedersen has now returned to the place where he was born and raised.
It’s a change in scenery that the 29-year-old paddler hopes will boost his performances.
“During this winter season, I moved back to my hometown to live with my girlfriend and to be close to my family who are in the town,” said Pedersen.
“It’s great to be back home and it’s a great place to paddle as well as there are beautiful lakes and I’m happy to train there.
“It’s good to get a change of scenery. It’s taken time to readjust but I’m really happy to be home. It’s a great.”
Pedersen is a man who is used to winning. He has achieved six world titles including four in Canoe Marathon and two in Canoe Sprint.
Last year saw Pedersen capture the men’s kayak single short-distance and long-distance titles in Canoe Marathon before storming to victory in the men’s K1 5,000m in Canoe Sprint.
However, his season was slightly tainted by his failure to secure a place at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – something he yet to achieve in his glittering career.
“I spent the beginning of last season in Australia training because I wanted to see if I could qualify for the K1 1000m (at the Olympic Games),” said Pedersen.
“For me, it was a big difference because before that I had been focusing a lot on the marathon, but it didn’t turn out how I wanted.
“I then swapped back and focused on the marathon.
“It ended pretty well because I won three world titles in one year so that was pretty incredible.”
With the men’s K1 5,000m not included in the programme for Los Angeles 2028, Pedersen is focusing his efforts on sealing an Olympic spot in the men’s K1 1000m.
To do so, Pedersen believes he needs to add muscle to strengthen his hopes of outpacing his rivals.
Pedersen admits it is difficult for him as a marathon paddler, but he insists it can be done to bolster his chances of completing his Olympic mission and achieving success at The World Games Chengdu 2025.
“It will be good to measure myself against the other guys in the K1 1000m,” said Pedersen.
“They are very strong, but I will do my best.
“I have been trying to focus on the gym and trying to gain some more muscle, but it is not so easy for me.
“I put on some muscle during the winter but when I started doing a lot of paddling again it all went away.
“Maybe I have got to do it some other way but it’s good to test some new things and try to improve myself together with my coach and teammates. We are trying our best.
“I was hoping that the 5k would be a part of the Olympic programme but unfortunately that won’t be the case.
“But I still think the 1000m is realistic so I will be training for that.
“I love to do marathon as well and I think these races can be combined.
“There are other athletes doing the same so it’s great to be involved with some different kind of racing.”
Pedersen will head to Chengdu, China next month looking to come away with two gold medals.
The Danish star claimed short-distance gold and standard-distance silver at The World Games Birmingham 2022.
“It’s been some years since Birmingham,” said Pedersen.
“Last year, I could see that focusing on the shorter distance (in Canoe Marathon) helped me a lot with my 1000m.
“I am trying to improve in the 1000m but at the same time The World Games is a big focus and is one of the biggest events of the season.”
After Chengdu 2025, Pedersen will attend the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships running from August 20 to 24 in Milan, Italy where he will target victory in the men’s K1 1000m and men’s K1 5,000m.
He is also preparing for the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships, held from September 4 to 7 in Gyor, Hungary.
“There are a lot of great events coming up, like The World Games this year so I’m very much looking forward to that and the Canoe Marathon World Championships in Gyor which is another really great place to be racing, and the sport is really big there,” added Pedersen.
“I also hope to qualify for the 5,000m in Milan to try to defend my title there.”
Related links
