Norway’s Para badminton star Sagoey has big expectations for Paralympic year

With just three weeks remaining in December, Norway’s Helle Sofie Sagoey is craving for the start of the Paralympic year, because she can still go back to all the feelings that Tokyo 2020 brought her. 

The Para badminton star remembers how fun and scary competing at the Games was, but believes that what she has achieved this year will help her win her first Paralympic medal at Paris 2024.

“I am really looking forward to the Paralympics in Paris. I dream of a medal and I will fight to stand on the podium at the Paralympics. For me as an athlete, the Paralympics are the biggest thing that I can experience so I’m very excited.”

From Tokyo to Paris

When Sagoey thinks back to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, she recalls her emotions during matches and how big everything felt. She describes how “scary” it was to represent her country, even feeling like a “shadow" of herself amid all of the attention she was getting for the first time.

Competing in the women’s singles SL4 tournament, Sagoey missed out on a medal, finishing fourth after her defeat to China’s Huihui Ma in the bronze medal match.

“It was very difficult to cope with the fear because I had never felt something like that. Since we heard about Para badminton becoming a part of the Paralympic Games in 2016, every day, it was Tokyo that we had been working for.

“And suddenly you are in Tokyo and other people can see you. There are 20 cameras on you, and it was so unreal because we didn’t have a lot of focus or media during other Para badminton tournaments.”

Tokyo 2020 was a learning experience, Sagoey says. In addition to learning about how to cope with pressure, she also learned how to relax and be confident. 

“I really enjoyed it and learned so many things. I really look forward to doing it even better in Paris,” she said. “Because now I have the experience from Tokyo, I hope (Paris 2024) will be a little bit more comforting.”

A fantastic 2023

Looking back at the past 12 months, the badminton star says she enjoyed a “fantastic year” that saw her achieve No. 1 in the world rankings for more than 10 weeks, win the gold medal at the inaugural European Para Championships and take part in a three-week training camp in Malaysia. 

“I feel stronger than ever on and off the badminton court", Sagoey said. “I have become more confident. I stand steadier and made good progress with my footwork. I have also gained a better understanding of tactics.” 

In July, she travelled to Malaysia with her friend and fellow athlete Catherine Rosengren, of Denmark, where they explored different strategies.

“We got to know many great people and got a good warm up before an important tournament in England and the European Para Championships in Rotterdam,” she said.

In August, Sagoey defeated Indonesia’s three-time Paralympic medallist Leani Ratri Oktila in the semifinal of the 4 Nations Para Badminton International 2023 en route to winning the tournament in Sheffield, England. 

Then she followed that up with a victory at the European Para Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where she celebrated with her coach Sonja Waaland.

“The European Para Championships is the tournament I remember the most this year”, Sagoey said.  

“This was the last tournament of the summer, and the goal was to become European champion. After a long season with a lot of travelling and training, it was so nice to take home the gold medal.

Love for badminton

Sagoey, who wears a prosthetic on her right leg, says it was “natural” for her to take up badminton. When she was eight years old, she decided to try out the sport at a club, where her brother was playing.

Badminton is not one of the most popular sports in Norway, the athlete says, but she kept going back to the club to play more.

“I remember I was so young and the goal was just to try to hit the shuttle and try to get the shuttle over the net. I remember that I really enjoyed it, because I came back again”, Sagoey recalled.

In 2013, she made her international debut at a Para badminton tournament in Turkey. She climbed up the ranks and won the World Championship in 2015, the year she was named female Para Badminton Player of the Year by the Badminton World Federation.

With the Paris 2024 Paralympics approaching, she thinks about how far the sport has taken her.

“Sport is an important part of my life because it gives me joy and the feeling of success. It helps me improve myself”, she said. “Sport has changed my life. It made me who I am today.”

“I really love being an athlete and playing Para badminton.”

Paving the way

As Sagoey sets her sights on the Paralympic podium, she also wants to inspire more people in Norway to take up the sport. She calls her coach, Waaland, her idol in the sport, and wants to become a role model for others.

“I think I am a role model for badminton in Norway so that’s very cool to have that opportunity to show more of it. I hope to inspire more people in Norway to try badminton, Para badminton or able-bodied because we need more people to watch this fantastic sport.”

While Sagoey was new to the spotlight in Tokyo, she is now ready and confident.

“There will be more people watching (us in Paris). That will be exciting, but I’m prepared.”