Ebba Årsjö had a giant breakthrough last winter.
But now she has made a decisive decision for the coming season.
– I cry after every ride, she tells DN.
Ebba Årsjö became historic this summer. Since the Victoria Prize was awarded in the late 70s, no Para-athlete had been awarded the prize. But history was made this summer, when Ebba Årsjö, 21, became the first ever to receive the scholarship. Årsjö received greetings from Ingemar Stenmark and was moved when she received the award, and talk about how it was well deserved.
The decisive decision
Ebba Årsjö has a muscle impairment in her right leg, which is a consequence of being born with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. When she went to the Paralympics last winter, she did so with high expectations for herself – and she surpassed them all. She went home with two golds and a bronze, and won the hearts of the Swedish people.
The Olympic bronze came in the steeplechase, but it is a discipline she has struggled with. And now Årsjö announces that she has made a big decision for the upcoming season. She chooses the discipline in which she won bronze in the Paralympics completely, as it hurts too much.
– I can barely complete the races because of the pain and I cry after every race and then the whole day is ruined and usually the whole week as well, says Ebba Årsjö to DN.
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“Do myself a favor”
In January, the WC awaits Årsjö, but the focus will therefore only be on slalom and giant slalom. Årsjö herself thinks it’s a shame, as she otherwise likes downhill.
– It’s sad because I think steeplechase is fun and I’m not afraid of speed and I miss even more chances to win a medal, but it’s not reasonable, she says.
Ebba Årsjö also believes that she is making the decision in order to have a longer career.
– I think I’m simply doing myself a favor, she says.
In addition to her success in the Paralympics, Ebba Årsjö has also won two World Cup golds, eleven World Cup victories and eleven European Cup victories. She goes into this winter’s World Cup as the big favorite in slalom.
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