Perhaps it was the attitude to life that brought her all the way to the Olympic gold in Beijing.

Eating disorders, weight gain and later injuries to both the face and knees - the challenges have been many during Sara Hector's career.

Turned obstacles into inspiration

Some had doubted her, but Sara Hector proved to have a huge flame within her and scored the season of her life at almost 30 years of age.

She turned obstacles into inspiration through new ways of thinking.

- It is required that you mentally take new steps and develop.

I find that really nurturing, fun and developing.

It's something I think I will benefit from regardless of what I do, says Sara Hector.

"Was sad again and again"

In the past, it was much more difficult for her to deal with adversity.

- It wasn't that I was thinking about quitting, but I was sad time and time again.

If things went bad, I couldn't handle it and cried a lot.

I was very disappointed and sad, and perhaps not so focused on developing and learning.

More focused on achieving results here and now, and if I couldn't do it, I "sucked" everything.

In the SVT Sports Årskrönika, Hector also offers a look back at the emotions that surged that golden glittering day in China.

- It was extreme happiness and pride.

I was also so sickly tired, so it really felt like "ahh I made it".

It's really the hardest day I've had, maybe ever in my life, says Sara Hector.

Clip: Sara Hector on the reactions after the summer talk: "Meaned so much"

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Sara Hector on the reactions after the summer talk: "It means so much" Photo: Bildbyrån/SVT