Alpine skier Årsjö is one of Sweden's top paralympians – and a face of para-sports.
Due to Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome, she suffers from constant pain in one of her legs. In recent years, it has worsened.
It's a bit tough that the pain is catching up and running away.
I'm quite positive outwardly to the media, but I try to be honest – two out of three training sessions are really tough. It's tough to have pain every day when you get up. I'm doing something I love and pushing myself, but then I provoke the pain, says Årsjö to SVT.
Despite the pain, she has achieved great successes in recent years. In 2022, she won double gold in both the Para World Championship and the Paralympics. In 2023, she took home the title in the overall World Cup.
Last winter, she had to take into account the pain and the strain on her leg and refrained from downhill skiing.
This winter, another World Championship awaits the 23-year-old.
When asked how big the difference is between 2022 and now in terms of pain experience, she answers:
Quite significant. I've always had pain, but it's different now, unfortunately.
Telling SVT, Ebba Årsjö says that the physical pain wears her down psychologically. Therefore, she has started collaborating with a sports psychologist.
It's new, and we're working on how I should think – he's a support and tries to guide me a bit when my thoughts go forward and what I should do when the pain increases. A lot of that, I have many thoughts and am very aware, maybe a bit too aware.
I think it will give a lot. It doesn't mean I always have a problem, but it's something I've had for a long time, and now I'm taking care of it in a preventive way, she says.
