Watch below as Swedish Swimmer Sarah Sjostrom crushes the World Record with a 24.43 in the women’s 50 fly.The video, cased within an interview with Swedish legend Lars Frolander, demonstrates a technique for Sjostrom than she uses in the 100 fly (see video of her 100 fly from Thursday here). Her swim is shown at several different angles and speeds.
All videos are courtesy of SVTplay.
This stroke is comparatively much more shallow, with a higher turnover, but this is similar to what we see from men’s 50 butterfliers as well: the stroke becomes more freestyle-like. Sjostrom’s sprint fly, like her free, is very flat, with virtually no “bounce” to her stroke. Not taking a breath contributes to that, but it makes for a very efficient stroke.
Sarah is doing for the sprints what Katie Ledecky is doing for the middle-distance/distance races. They are both forcing the rest of the world to play catch-up and taking those who are willing into a brand new dimension. This proves that there are no limits. Only those that are in your mind.
–TRANSCRIPT–
From SVT, Commentators Staffan Lindeborg (SL) and Hans Chrunak (HC)
HC: Adjusting the googles, the swimsuit. swim cap. What has improved are the small details for Sarah… faster from start and more so important – a good first surfacing. And the technique has been honed ever more. Her break-through came in fly, but in 100m. She won gold in the european championships only 14-year old 2008 and the first World championship gold medal came 2009.
(Just before starting)
The world record so is 25…0…7. Sarah’s qualifying time: 25.23.
START
HC: Good start
SL: Yes, very good
SL: The first stroke after… 12 meters.
HC: Yes, it’s pretty good
SL: It’s a sharp… Read more »
🙂 I think you might be right there, Jeanette is a beast. But now she is going to have to go some to compete with Sarah.
I know this sounds weird, but for some reason I really, REALLY want to see an arm wrestling match between Sarah Sjostrom and Katinka Hosszu.
I think Sarah would win on pure strength, but if she didn’t pin Katinka right away, I think Katinka could outlast her.
I think Otteson might beat both of them.
WTF????!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!!!
Fantastic swim. Incredible power, lung capacity; perfect finish. Everything seemed to go perfectly with this swim, even the conditions.
I’d like to get a butterflyer’s perspective on this: How much do you think the wind could have been a factor here?
Looks like wind was blowing pretty hard at the swimmers’ backs at the start. Not to take anything away from what Sarah accomplished. I don’t think wind could possibly explain 0.6s, but would she have gone any faster/slower in an indoor pool?
I was there, and the wind was not blowing hard at all
If anything, the wind may cause a slight current in the pool.
I doubt it has much of a direct influence on her body, especially as she is swimming so flat.
Check out the commentary at 1:41!! Pretty obvious “F – U” to the old record (twice)!!
He says “it’s incredible! 24.43, 24,43!!” (I’m swedish)
He’s saying “tjugofyra fyrtio tre!” In English “twenty four forty three!”
Uh, I was kidding – I didn’t really think he was saying FU.
That would’ve won the 50m freestyle at the 2007 World Championships (Libby Lenton 24.53) and would rank 6th in the world for 50m free in 2014.
This swim would also break 50 free WR in early 2000, breaking Le Jingyi’s 24.51 from 1994 and De Bruijn’s 24.48 from early 2000.