Those who have followed Hector over the years may have noticed through the TV screen how it can sound when she skis down the slope. How she often talks to herself during the run.
When I was little, I sang a lot when I skied. Because I thought it was fun, I suppose. And then I had a period that was quite embarrassing – then I started commenting on myself. Because I had watched a lot of TV. And then I started doing like the commentators, says Sara Hector.
But it was maybe when I was ten years old. It wasn't a very long period, fortunately. Then it turned into words. And then more swearwords.
Several Medal Chances in the World Championship
It can be fascinating to listen to. But, says Hector, it's not a good sign. The less she talks during the run, the better.
If it's going well, I'm more quiet. Often I would say that the worse it goes, or the more frustrated I am, the more words there are. And usually, they're not very nice words. Mom came once and said "you shouldn't talk so much". But I can't think about not talking. But it has become less over the years, I would say.
Nowadays, it's more sounds than actual words, says the 32-year-old. And during the winter, she hasn't talked much at all, which bodes well for the World Championship in Austrian Saalbach, which starts with the team event (parallel) on Tuesday.
In the giant slalom, Sara Hector has shown brilliant form with two World Cup wins and a second place. Two podium finishes in slalom, most recently a second place in the World Championship rehearsal in Courchevel, show that she is also competitive there.
Starting with the Team Event
The individual technical events at the World Championship will not be decided until next week. But Hector is part of the Swedish team that will compete for medals on the championship's first day, in an event where Sweden took silver in 2021.
Will she then make an extra effort to keep quiet on the way down to a blue-yellow top spot?
No. I have to focus on what I do on the slope. I can't ski around and focus on not talking when I'm skiing. I have enough to think about what I'm doing. It's just that sometimes I'm a bit extroverted. It just flies out.
The Alpine World Championship takes place in Austrian Saalbach from 4 to 16 February.
Sweden's team:
Ladies: Anna Swenn-Larsson, Cornelia Öhlund, Estelle Alphand, Hanna Aronsson Elfman, Lisa Nyberg, Sara Hector.
Men: Fabian Ax Swartz, Felix Monsén, Gustav Wissting, Kristoffer Jakobsen, William Hansson.
Competition program:
4 February
15.15: Team event, parallel, mixed.
6 February
11.30: Super-G, ladies.
7 February
11.30: Super-G, men.
8 February
11.30: Downhill, ladies.
9 February
11.30: Downhill, men.
11 February
10.00: Combination, team, downhill, ladies.
13.15: Combination, team, slalom, ladies.
12 February
10.00: Combination, team, downhill, men.
13.15: Combination, team, slalom, men.
13 February
09.45: Giant slalom, ladies, first run.
13.15: Giant slalom, ladies, second run.
14 February
09.45: Giant slalom, men, first run.
13.15: Giant slalom, men, second run.
15 February
09.45: Slalom, ladies, first run.
13.15: Slalom, ladies, second run.
16 February
09.45: Slalom, men, first run.
13.15: Slalom, men, second run.
