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2022 EUROPEAN FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR – SARAH SJOSTROM, SWEDEN
Sarah Sjostrom dropped the 100 butterfly from her race lineup in 2022, but the Swedish sprint specialist still proved this year that she has plenty left in the tank at 29 years old.
At June’s World Championships in Budapest, Sjostrom kicked off the meet by securing the silver medal in the 100 free, finishing on the podium for the fifth time in a row in the event. In the 50 fly, she threw down the 14th sub-25 second time of her career en route to the win. No other swimmer has ever broken the 25-second barrier. Sjostrom owns 43 of the 50 fastest times in the 50 free, reaching a level of dominance that exceeds even Katie Ledecky‘s 41 times in the top 50 of the 800 free.
Sjostrom won the 50 fly by more than three-tenths of a second, making her one of eight swimmers in history to pull off a four-peat at Worlds. She added a world title in the 50 free, dipping under 24 seconds for the 19th time. That feat has only been achieved 42 times in history.
Her three Worlds medals made her the most decorated female swimmer ever at the meet in terms of individual medals with 19 career individual medals and 20 total at Worlds.
At the European Championships in August, Sjostrom won both of her individual events — the 50 free and 50 fly — while anchoring Sweden’s 400 medley relay team that took gold. She also led off the 400 freestyle relay team that captured silver. She left Rome with 27 career Euros medals, most all-time among men or women over Russian sprinter Alexander Popov (26).
After Euros, Sjostrom announced she was skipping the FINA World Cup Series and Short Course World Championships to rest in preparation for the 2023 World Championships and 2024 Paris Olympics. But she remains hungry, motivated by the thought that her best times are still ahead of her in the 50 free.
“I still have a bit to give and I can probably swim faster than I have before, especially in the 50-meter freestyle,” Sjostrom said.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 2022 was the first full year back invested into the sport for Meilutyte, and the 25-year-old Olympic champion didn’t miss a beat. She won 50 breast gold at Worlds (long course), Euros, and Short Course Worlds, where set a world record in 28.37 during last weekend’s semifinals.
- Marrit Steenbergen, Netherlands – The 22-year-old Dutchwoman had a busy year, starting with a bronze medal in the 400 mixed medley relay at Worlds in June. Less than two months later, she collected seven medals — including four golds — at Euros. After a brief appearance at the World Cup Series, Steenbergen capped her year off with her first individual world title in the 100 IM, rallying from fourth at the turn to reach the wall first in a Dutch-record 57.53.
PAST WINNERS
- 2021 Swammy – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden
- 2020 Swammy – Beryl Gastaldello, France
- 2019 Swammy – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary
- 2018 Swammy — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden
- 2017 Swammy — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden
- 2016 Swammy — Katinka Hosszu, Hungary
- 2015 Swammy — Katinka Hosszu, Hungary
- 2014 Swammy — Katinka Hosszu, Hungary
When I’ve checked her Instagram, Sarah for months has been fixing up the house she bought recently. I appreciate it when the athletes share other aspects of their life, instead of merely the latest swimming result. Besides, I can relate. I’ve been fixing an old house myself. I pick one room at a time and give myself a full month before moving to the next one.
Marrit is my breakout of the year
Wasick with a HM at least??