PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Anna Beck secured Sweden’s first medal in the Paralympics, a bronze in the cycling time trial.
In Paris, she drove for her cancer-stricken brother.
– Mikael, this one is for you, she says in SVT’s broadcast.
Just before the Olympics, the paracyclist got Anna Becks brother news that he has incurable cancer, which she told about on Instagram.
– We said before I left that he is fighting with his and I am fighting here for both of us. It’s been a challenge but… we’re doing it together. It gives an extra dimension when he fights on his side, she says on the phone to TT with a broken voice.
The 44-year-old Swede has been unbeaten in pace for two years and she also had the fastest time in the race in Paris.
But Beck is disadvantaged by the competition structure where three classes are combined and there is a bonus system. The Swedish team knew that it would be difficult to win a medal.
“She is unique”
And it was tight inside. At the end she was fourth, one second behind.
– We had a plan to give her times and coach her for the last three kilometers, when we knew she could make up time. And she succeeded, she delivers. She is unique and does what we see is not possible, says union captain Michael Lindgren, clearly moved, to SVT.
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Because of the bonus system won Mike HausbergerGermany, with 15 seconds left Frances BrownGreat Britain. Beck was another eight seconds behind. Hausberger drives in C2 and Brown in C1.
The 44-year-old Swede had a margin of three tenths to fourth Flurina Rigling (C2).
– I was told that I was in for a medal but that it was very tight at the end, and it was. In the beginning, I didn’t get the speed in the curves and it took some time to get into it, says Beck to TT.
– When it became more uphill and downhill, I thought it felt good. But the last hill is both steep and long and then there wasn’t much left – but enough.
Chasing a new medal
Beck’s strength is persistence.
– I have trained a lot and can stand lying high and I can handle the lactic acid both physically and mentally – and can focus on toughing it out all the way.
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Anna Beck took silver in tempo in the Paralympics in Tokyo 2021 and also silver in the line race.
On Saturday, the line race is run in Paris and then the classes are not taken into account, but whoever finishes first wins. It is an advantage for Beck, who is of course aiming for a medal again.
– I hope and will give everything.
Do you have a greater medal chance in the line race?
– Yes, maybe, I will do everything to make it so.
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