Even before the Paralympics, Ebba Årsjö was disappointed with the International Paralympic Committee's decision to let Russian athletes compete under their own flag.
If they don't do it at the Olympics, they shouldn't do it at the Paralympics, Årsjö told TT.
Now Årsjö also had to listen to Russia's national anthem.
It hurts. It's no fun. She was good - I wasn't the best today. She was excellent. The person she is - I'm happy for that. She deserved it today; I didn't. But it's damn tough that we'll hear that song later, Årsjö said.
Årsjö finished third, 2.04 seconds behind Vorontjichina.
First gold
It was Russia's first gold medal at the Paralympics in Italy, the country having previously won two bronze medals. Previously, Russian athletes were allowed to compete under a neutral flag at other championships - such as the Olympics in February 2022 and the Paralympics in Beijing in 2022.
It was the first time Russia's national anthem had been played at a global sporting event since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It was also the first time it had been played at the Paralympics since the 2014 Sochi Games.
Russia was first banned due to a state-sponsored doping program and the restrictions were extended after the invasion.
“Disappointed with my ride”
Årsjö thought she would feel her leg during the competition.
I'm disappointed with my run; it was timid. I thought I would have a hard time with my leg, so I took way too much height. But I'll be damn happy that it's enough for bronze, Årsjö said and continued:
Mentally, I thought I would have a really hard time with the crest, that there are more turns in the super-G and that I hadn't ridden the course before. I had a little bit of a hold-up that I couldn't let go of.
On Saturday, the roles were reversed in the downhill race when the Swede took gold and Vorontjichina came third.
"I was a completely different girl in the downhill, where I really pushed," Årsjö said.
She will compete in the super combined on Tuesday. Then there are slalom and giant slalom.
