The 48-year-old finished fourth in the semi-finals and tomorrow will end the championship in Szeged with competing in the B-finals.

- I think I did an okay race yesterday in the trial and thought I would improve it today in the semi-finals. But I did not get to the race at all and was very disappointed after the finish. Not directly over time or that I missed the final, but over performance. In fact, I think I did a lousy race, Ripa says.

Missed qualifying for the Paralympics 2020

In addition to the Swedish being unable to defend her World Cup gold from last year, she also misses taking one of the six qualifying places for next year's Paralympics in Tokyo.

But the goal of taking a medal remains. The World Cup in May 2020 is the last chance to qualify.

How do you assess your chances of taking one of the qualifying places there?

- It is hard to say. But considering how my year has looked forward to now and how little I have been able to train, I am extremely happy how close I am to my competitors at times. I am at the best times I have ever done despite the background I have had over the past year. I have a lot of potential to improve and take one of the last four records.

Dish hernia in March

Helene Ripa was operated on for hernia in March and it was unclear before the operation if she could manage to play and live a physically active life again.

In June she was back in the canoe again after not exercising since last November.

Helene Ripa took gold at cross-country skiing in the Paralympics in Sochi 2014 and finished fifth in the canoe in Rio 2016.