Helen Ripa ends her career | SVT Sports

Helen Ripa achieved the greatest sporting successes, especially in swimming, cross-country skiing and rowing. The highlight of the Paralympic Games was in Sochi in 2014 when she took silver and gold in cross-country skiing.

– It was a wonderful moment. “I didn’t think it was possible, but I did it,” says Helen Ripa.

Many sports

Helen Ripa, 52, was forced to have her right leg amputated when she was 14 after being diagnosed with cancer. After the operation, she gradually began to compete in swimming and achieved great success, winning 23 SM medals, 10 of which were gold.

Then I continued cross-country skiing and later canoeing. It led to a remarkable career spanning four decades of great success.

-I always want to give my best and I want to win. “I no longer have the motivation I need, and with the fact that my body isn’t keeping up, I feel like that’s enough for now,” says Helen Ripa.

“A strong foundation to stand on”

The 2018 World Championships gold medal in rowing, and the sprint distance, also took a significant rise. In addition to these feats, she has numerous championship medals and top finishes in her long record.

What awaits you now as a retiree?

– Today I am strong in myself and I know that if I stay away from sports, I have a strong foundation on which to stand without it. There’s still a lot to do, so the retiree says, laughing.