Last summer, she came to the World Cup in Hungary as world champion and finished tenth. But the feat was to even get there and sit in the canoe.

Just a few months earlier, it was uncertain whether Helene Ripa would even be able to live a normal, active life again after she had to have her neck stiffened due to a severe herniated disc.

Ripa was determined to qualify for this summer's Paralympics in Tokyo.

But then the corona came and pushed the championship forward. Ripa had to decide: "Can I have another year of preparation?"

- It was quite natural that I would continue and drive another year. The reason why it was a pretty simple decision after all was that I came back from the neck surgery in March last year and wanted to give myself the chance to do another year and show myself and my competitors that I was something to count on.

Qualifies in May

In the croft outside Sunne in Värmland, Helene Ripa now mixes holidays with training. At the end of August, the Swedish Championships in Hofors and - if the pandemic allows - the World Cup in September and the European Championships the following month await.

But it is in May next year that it really matters. Then the Olympic venue must be squeezed if the goal that has driven her in recent years is to be met: to win a medal at the Paralympics for the second time in her career, seven years after the first to ski in Sochi in 2014.

- I think my chances are good. There are still four places left to fight and I'm set to take one of them. I hope for a really good year with good training and preferably a little competitive. Then I think my chances are very good, says Helene Ripa.