Skysports.com meets Caroline Larsson, the girl who refused to let amputation get in the way of her golf.
Skysports.com meets the Swede putting sport into perspective
Sport likes to build stories around over-the-top and heroic stereotypes.
Footballers and rugby players are, for example, praised for "bravely" and "fearlessly" throwing themselves into tackles, defeat is frequently deemed "tragic", and cynicism is the default-setting for most hacks and fans.
But every now and again a sportsman or woman emerges whose story puts everything into perspective - a character who endures genuine heartbreak (rather than a sporting version of it), who displays authentic courage (not bluster) and who responds with life-affirming spirit (instead of tired world-weariness).
Caroline Larsson is one such sportswoman.
The 23-year-old Swede always suspected the 2011 golf season would be eventful and it has proved to be exactly that. But instead of adventures around the world carrying the bag of her sister Louise on the Ladies European Tour she has been hit by a series of life-changing events that would have floored lesser people.
The story began in Spain, in late 2010, when the Larsson sisters attended LET Q-School. Louise earned a card, Caroline did not, but a new plan emerged - they would still travel together, but with Caroline caddying for Louise in her rookie year.
The very first stop was Christchurch, for the New Zealand Open in February, but, on the Monday after the tournament, just hours before they were due to fly home, disaster stuck the South Island town.
Hit by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, the city - already weakened by bigger quake the previous September - was devastated and the two sisters found themselves in the middle of the carnage.
Earthquake in Christchurch
"We were in a restaurant when the quake hit," explained Caroline, during the recent Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle. "The building was shaking, I passed out and Louise dragged me on to the street.
"Glass and debris was falling from the buildings and a man urged us to move to an open area. We later learned that most of the buildings on that street collapsed, our restaurant was one of just a few to stay up."
The problems were not over. "A second quake hit a little while later and cracks in the earth just opened up around us. It was incredibly frightening.
"We slept in our rental car that night and were very relieved to leave later in the week. We stayed in touch with people in the town and learned of the scale of the disaster - 181 people died, many in the area we were eating."
Within weeks Caroline's year was to take yet another twist and turn. Attending a check-up following an earlier operation to remove a cancerous tumour, she was told five malignant tumours had been identified in her thigh. Amputation of the leg was the only option.
"I had been through so much emotionally in Christchurch," she says. "I had a different outlook on life having been so close to being killed, I felt so good and suddenly I was faced with this new thing to take in."
Talking to Caroline about the amputation is not easy. The problem is that you are aware that this is a girl who has responded brilliantly to what fate has thrown at her and yet it feels glib and patronising to say, "Well done".
It's as if she has had to experience unknown pain and mental trauma to inspire us with her attitude, epitomized by her favourite phrases, "Fear less, live more," and, "Be positive and cheerful."
But, even as I explain
