Within a few years she became a world top freestyle swimmer, and won a bronze medal at the 1958 Swedish Junior Swimming Championships. She finished second in the 400 m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and a few days later set a new world record in the 1500 m freestyle in Sweden.
She rapidly became a leading figure in freestyle swimming, winning a bronze medal at the 1958 Swedish Junior Swimming Championships. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, she came second in the 400 m freestyle event, and then set a new world record just days later by achieving a remarkable feat in the 1500 m freestyle in Sweden.