Injuries have plagued her for years, with six surgeries.
The Olympic debut last week brought only tears, with a 42nd place in the normal hill.
But when it really mattered on the big hill in Predazzo, 25-year-old Westman delivered almost perfectly.
She stepped out into the evening darkness and flew 129.5 meters in the first jump, 127.5 meters in the second.
The result: a very strong fourth place, just six points from a bronze medal - which would have been Sweden's first ski jumping medal in the Olympics since Brätt-Kalle Holmström from Kiruna won bronze in Oslo in 1952.
"Unbelievable. It's absolutely fantastic. It means everything to me and for the future too. It's possible to come back even though you've been at rock bottom," a smiling Westman tells the Swedish press corps in Predazzo.
Norwegian double
The victory went to Norwegian Anna Odine Strøm ahead of compatriot Eirin Maria Kvandal and Slovenian Nika Prevc.
Westman's performance is made even more impressive by the fact that it was one of the best of her career. The Trondheim-trained Örnsköldsvik native has previously placed third once - in a World Cup competition in Poland in 2022.
Fourth place is also much needed for Swedish ski jumping, which has been starved of success for years.
"It will probably take some time to settle in, but I feel this was one of the most important days of my life. I really hope this will make more people get to the slopes and jump," she says.
I hope more young people will be inspired.
Aiming for a medal
Sunday night's result was a major turnaround compared to her normal hill result at the Olympics last Saturday.
Then an anything-but-happy Swede only got to jump once, after struggling.
It took a few days to digest. I just tried to forget that day completely. But I know that I have been strong on bigger hills, so I dared to believe in it, says Westman.
The goal now is the home World Championships in Falun next year.
Then it will be a medal.
And then the Olympics in the French Alps in four years.
Then I'll take gold, says Frida Westman.
