Today, Aftonbladet came with the gloomy news that the former running star Sara Wedlund is dead.

She turned 45 years old.

This is something that makes Kajsa Bergqvist - who also participated in the World Cup in Gothenburg in 1996 - mourn, reason and remember.

- For Sara, it was always a struggle.

She struggled with her illness and all the unwanted publicity she received.

I think she appreciated the support she received after her fantastic competitions, but then she wanted to be at peace, says Bergqvist to SVT Sport and continues:

- It's so sad.

I really wish she had come to terms with herself, that she had the opportunity for a longer and more joyful career.

"She had a sense of humor"

Bergqvist also looks back with blue-yellow glasses, in their time together in the national team.

- Sara kept most to herself.

She usually had her own set-up to be able to perform and feel good.

The times we got a little closer to each other, however, she was quite pointed.

How do you mean?

- She had a sense of humor and was quite cunning.

At the same time, she was a fantastic runner and talent.

She arrived at a time when Sweden more or less longed for a new athletics star, when they wanted a new generation to take over.

"Even more popular"

Injuries and diseases, not least anorexia, lay as burdens in Wedlund's mental and physical backpack, Bergqvist says.

- She got a couple of years, but the body does not hold if you do not get enough nutrition at the same time as you train so hard.

Her disease picture is unfortunately far too common in sports, with the pressure that comes with it, Bergqvist tells SVT and continues:

- We ran together a few times already as twelve- or 13-year-olds.

She had to struggle to deal with all aspects of life in order to keep going.

It is with great sadness that you hear that she no longer exists.

We have not had private contact, but people have wondered how she feels and hoped for the best.

What made her popular?

- Exactly that she was a slightly different sports girl who barely wanted to talk to the media.

It made her even more popular.

She stuck out.

She did her thing, went out and ran and did fantastic.

During the few seasons she delivered, she won the heart of all of Sweden.