© Leona Hofmann / Universität Bremen
Between Lecture Halls and the Hockey Court
Maya Hartmann on balancing competitive sports and a degree
Maya Hartmann is 18 years old and is studying at the University of Bremen to become a biology and sports teacher. She’s also on the German national unicycle hockey squad. In an interview with up2date., she shares insights into her unique sport and how she balances student life with training and preparing for the upcoming UNICON 22 unicycling world championships.
Unicycle hockey is not a sport that people usually encounter in school sports classes. How did you come in contact with it?
I got a unicycle for my seventh birthday, but didn’t ride it regularly at first. Thanks to a classmate, I joined my club and spent years learning to ride, practicing tricks, and playing games. After a while, that became too routine. About five years ago, I discovered unicycle hockey and was hooked right away.
What exactly is unicycle hockey?
It’s basically like ice hockey, but without the ice – and on a unicycle. Five players are on the court at a time, including the goalkeeper. We use ice hockey goals, a tennis ball, and ice hockey sticks. It’s a fast-paced sport, where speeds of 20 kph are common. Despite the speed, there’s little body contact – we don’t crash into walls or each other. It’s actually very safe. I wear knee pads and gloves to keep the stick from slipping.
© Leona Hofmann / Universität Bremen
What makes this sport special to you?
The team aspect. In Germany, there are about 700 active players. What’s unique is that you play in teams mixed by age and gender – splitting them wouldn’t make sense given the small player base. That means you know almost everyone, and every tournament feels like a reunion. It’s a small community, but a very close-knit one.
Where can you play unicycle hockey in and around Bremen?
Bremen 1860, Thedinghausen, and SV Hemelingen all have teams. I train with TV Lilienthal, but Bremen and the surrounding area is a hotspot for the sport. That didn’t happen by accident – three of these clubs were founded or developed by my coach, who played a key role in shaping unicycle hockey here. Our club’s unicycling division has around 150 members, and our unicycle hockey players make up about 10% of the entire league.
How do you manage studying, training, and preparing for the world championships?
Overall, it’s manageable. Luckily, my degree program is pretty flexible, and being able to train in the university’s gyms between classes is super helpful. I have morning lectures, train in the gym, and then head to more classes. In the evening, I train with the club. I also use train rides to tournaments or squad training to study. You do have to manage your time well. Beyond my own training, I coach the junior team and go with them to tournaments. I also coach two beginner courses for unicycling and kids’ unicycle hockey.
What does a typical week look like for you?
On average, I train three times a week at the university, four times with the club, and twice with the junior team. I have classes every day, and not just a few, so I’m often at the university all morning and afternoon. That means constantly switching between training and studying. When I’m free, I prepare for classes, study, or play other sports. I often spend my weekends at tournaments. Every six weeks, I attend squad training, and have to travel across Germany for that. I’m away nearly every weekend unless I have block seminars.
© Leona Hofmann / Universität Bremen
Do you still have time for family and friends?
My favorite time is when my whole family is home and we eat together. We always make time for that. My sister and I play on the same team, travel together, train together, and can talk about that with each other. Several of my closest friends are people I met through this sport, so I see them at training and sometimes hang out with them afterwards.
You’re participating in this year’s UNICON 22 unicycling world championships in Steyr, Austria from July 24 to August 7, 2026. How are you preparing for this?
UNICON 22 isn’t just about unicycle hockey. It’s also the unicycling world championships, so there are tournaments in other disciplines too. I’m competing in the ten-kilometer street race, downhill, and cross-country. Of course, I need to train for these races too, so I sometimes travel to the Harburg Hills or Harz Mountains to train on proper terrain. Otherwise, I mostly train as usual, while also watching livestreams and videos of top games to study tactics I can apply in my own training.
What suggestions do you have for others who want to pursue both competitive sports and a degree?
That’s a very individual decision, since every elite athlete is different. However, I can definitely recommend the “Studium und Spitzensport” (Students and Elite Athletes) services. It helped me a lot, not just with organizing gym times between classes, but also with arranging alternative exams and coordinating things with lecturers.
Do you have additional goals or plans?
I’m pretty happy with how things are going. Short-term, there’s the world championships. Long-term, I want to successfully complete my degree, keep training hard, and become the best I can be. I’m especially committed to developing young talent. I love helping children discover their passion for the sport and guiding them on their way. Everything I learn in my degree applies directly to coaching kids’ teams. I think my sport and degree complement each other perfectly!