Well-known para athlete Helene Ripa won gold on skiing in Sochi 2014 and finished fifth in her first Paralympics as a canoeist in Rio 2016.

When she was 14, she was forced to amputate the lower right leg because of cancer, and since then she has defeated herself and others many times in many different sports over a long career.

But despite that, the past year has been her toughest so far.

- I have chosen not to say anything publicly in the past. But now I feel it is time. People will wonder when I come to the World Cup and cannot perform as expected, says Ripa.

"Made me so scared"

In November last year, the pain hit during a training camp in Mallorca. The arms ached and the feeling was affected.

- Disc herniation in the neck is not something you think you can play with. Just the idea that it could be surgery made me so afraid, says Ripa.

After a few months of training and rehab, it became clear after a few months that an intervention was needed. The neck operation of the neck was performed in March and went well.

In June she was back in the canoe again. Many valuable training months were lost. But that the body replied that it holds was an invaluable message.

- When I sat in the canoe for the first time again in June, I had no idea how my body would respond to the workout and whether it would be possible to continue. But it worked well. Only it is absolutely fantastic. My body might as well have said "no, now we are done with this".

Turns off sub-mode

When SVT meets Ripa during the canoe team's World Cup camp at Vaxholm outside Stockholm, she makes her first maximum bet at the competition distance 200 meters. Less than two weeks left for the World Cup.

- Yes, it was not at all what I had thought. After a great season last year with the SM gold, the European gold and the World Cup gold, I went into this winter season with the highest possible expectations that it would be a really good training and competition year. Now it is okay that my World Cup will not be as I had hoped it would be.

- It's a fight against the clock, the body and the knob. Okay, I might not get to the top six at the World Cup and take one of the places to Tokyo. I might not even get to the final. But I have a body that works. I will be able to train more. At what level it is uncertain to say but I have until May to do everything in my power to perhaps take one of the last four places for the Paralympics then.

So instead of going to the World Cup and defending a gold, Ripa is now in a position where she knocked out the bottom position. And that is exactly when she is doing her best.

- It's a little bit so I work. It is always easier to come from below and perform than to defend. In this case, I was defending. But now I am back in the fact that, at least for myself, I have to show that it is possible.

And the medal goal in Tokyo exists?

- Absolutely.

... and the medal goal for the World Cup?

- No. It does not.

But if the medal should roll into Tokyo. So is this a good ingredient in that story?

- Absolutely, absolutely, says the 47-year-old with a smile, before quickly adding:

- But first, I'll take a qualifying spot.