Ebba Andersson's path to the top of the world has been fraught with worries that have made her doubt her future as a skier many times.
She has above all had a knee that has haunted and that forced her to a heavy start even from last year's season.
It was during a run that Ebba Andersson picked up a previous injury which meant that she again had to go through a difficult period on the side of the ski tracks.
In SVT Sports' series "The Winter Star", she tells about that period.
- It was really like the blind was pulled down for one when it happened.
It was a week before I was to stand on the starting line and I was ready to really give the iron out on the ski track.
Instead, I had to go into a gym to do a lot of rehab.
Considering that I have gone through it before, I wondered if I palled this once more, I was not sure, says Andersson.
It was so bad?
- Yes.
It was even the case that when I talked on the phone with my mother ... or I cried the most and was quite hysterical.
Then I did not know if I would stall this, if it was worth it.
But pretty quickly you come to the realization that I would not have reacted so strongly if it did not mean anything to me.
The knowledge that I would not be able to participate for some time to come was very frustrating.
World Cup the big highlight
Ebba Andersson has this season been allowed to start it without injury worries.
The highlight of the season awaits the cross-country skiers in February when it's time for the World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.
Andersson has previously won two World Cup medals: A silver in Lahti 2017 and a gold in Seefeld 2019. Both have been in the relay and now the 23-year-old Swede is primarily aiming for the individual medals.
- Of course it is and I feel, that it is the third time valid.
It is still an individual sport we are doing, so it probably sounds a little louder if you were to succeed individually.
See the entire meeting with Ebba Andersson and the remaining episodes of "Vinterstjärnan" on SVT Play
.