In Beijing she was so nervous that she vomited.
Sara Hector wasn’t as shaky as she tried to defend her Olympic gold four years later, but admitted she had plenty of butterflies in her stomach as soon as she started in Cortina.
But the nervousness couldn’t stop her this time either. Only 35-year-old Federica Brignone, who celebrated her comeback, prevented the Swede from Sandviken, who was two years younger, from reaching the top of the podium again.
She said the mental training she underwent paid off.
“I actually became mentally strong,” she said, explaining that the nervousness was nowhere near as bad as in Beijing.
– But I was a little impressed by the seriousness of the moment. Sometimes it can get quite far, so you can work with it. “When it comes right, when you’re standing there, it’s easy to become passive,” Hector said.
The first trip was She was far from flawless and was tied for fourth before the second round, which was sharper and moved her into second place with Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund. Incredibly, the two drivers had the same time in both runs.
-It must be one in a million, said Hector.
The two northerners sat together on the winner’s bench and saw how three drivers did not beat their time.
Then came the sovereigns Federica Brignone accepted the gold and invited the silver medalists to the victory party.
– She called out, “See you at Austrain House,” said Hector, wanting to celebrate but not much.
On Wednesday it’s slalom and a new chance for a medal.
Standing in the goal line an Olympic giant slalom gold medalist from Albertville in 1992. Pernilla Wiberg, now an expert commentator at SVT, said she was most impressed that Hector had managed to exclude the press from the area.
– She had mental spirits for a long time and worked with them. “This is proof that it’s paying off,” Wiberg said, saying she met Hector at practice on Saturday and saw that she was very focused.
That’s why she wasn’t surprised that there was also a Swedish Alpine medal at these Olympic Games.
– It’s so strong, said Wiberg.
Facts.Sarah Hector
Born: September 4, 1992 in Sandviken.
Merits: Olympics: Gold in the giant slalom in 2022, silver in the giant slalom in 2026. World Cup: Silver in the team in 2021, bronze in the team in 2025. World Cup: 28 individual podium places (25 in the giant slalom, 3 in the slalom), including 8 victories (all in the giant slalom).
Facts.Swedish Olympic medals in alpine skiing
2026: Silver: Sara Hector (giant slalom).
2022: Gold: Sara Hector (giant slalom).
2018: Gold: André Myhrer (slalom), Frida Hansdotter (slalom).
2010: Bronze: André Myhrer (slalom), Anja Pärson (super combination).
2006: Gold: Anja Pärson (slalom). Bronze: Anja Pärson (downhill and combination), Anna Ottosson (giant slalom).
2002: Silver: Anja Pärson (giant slalom). Bronze: Anja Pärson (slalom).
1998: Silver: Pernilla Wiberg (downhill).
1994: Gold: Pernilla Wiberg (combination).
1992: Gold: Pernilla Wiberg (giant slalom).
1988: Bronze: Lars-Börje Eriksson (Super-G).
1980: Gold: Ingemar Stenmark (slalom and giant slalom).
1976: Bronze: Ingemar Stenmark (giant slalom).
1956: Bronze: Stig Sollander (slalom).
Read more:
Olympic silver went to Sara Hector – shared medal with Norway
Kneeling in front of the master – everyone greets the Queen of the Dolomites
