2024 SJOSTROM INVITATIONAL
- Monday, August 12th
- Eriksdalsbadet, Stockholm, Sweden
- SCM (25m)
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- Meet Central
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30-year-old Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, who took gold in both the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle events in Paris, has eyes on short course world records as she’s set to take on multiple races at the 2024 Sjostrom Invitational.
Taking place today in Stockholm, the competition will see its namesake swimmer take on the 50m fly and 50m free, with both events raced in the skins format. There will be quarterfinals followed by semifinals and ultimately a final to determine the champion.
The format continues for the men’s and women’s backstroke and breaststroke events as well.
The Sjostrom Invitational will also see the younger set take to the pool, with direct finals hosting Swedish swimmers born in 2008 and younger.
“2008 was the year I made my championship debut and I thought it could be fun with youngsters in the competition too, where we can cheer each other on,” said Sjostrom.
“I can cheer on my young club mates and they can cheer on me and my international friends when we swim.”
Women’s 50 Fly – Quarterfinal
Gunning for a possible world record, Sjostrom laid down a marker of 24.69 to get the ball rolling in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50m fly. The next-closest swimmer was Sara Junevik who clocked 25.16 while Josefina Alm (28.95) and Mimmi Renlund (28.96) also made it to the next round.
As a reminder, Therese Alshammar owns the world’s best-ever performance with the 24.38 logged in 2009 and Sjostrom’s PB rests within range at 24.50 from 2021.
Men’s 50 Fly – Quarterfinal
The men’s 50m fly field contained just 7 participants, with Jacob Danielsson leading the way with a swift 23.11. That beat the quarterfinal field by nearly a second, with Elias Persson next in line at 24.08.
Danielsson’s outing already represents a new personal best, wiping out the 23.26 he established in October of last year. Swedish national record holder Oskar Hoff casually sawm 24.49 and Gustav Storell also made the next round with 25.33.
Of note, 50-year-old Lars Frolander was racing today. The 6-time Swedish Olympian put up a time of 25.51 to finish 5th in the first round.
Women’s 50 Back – Quarterfinal
Olympian Louise Hansson was the decisive winner of this quarterfinal round of the women’s 50m back. The 27-year-old logged a result of 27.50 to top the field by over 2 seconds.
She still has some speed left in the tank as Hansson owns a lifetime best and Swedish national record of 25.83 from the 2021 Short Course World Championships semi-final. She ultimately placed 3rd that year in Abu Dhabi with a time of 25.86.
Women’s 50 Fly – Semifinal
It will a battle of the ‘Sarahs’ as both Sjostrom and Junevik cleared the pack to make it to the final. The former shaved .02 off her quarterfinal time to check in with 24.67 while the latter add .31.
We’ll see if Sjostrom can make a run at Alshammar’s record in the final match.
Men’s 50 Fly – Semifinal
It will be Jacob Danielsson and Elias Persson appearing in the final of the men’s 50m fly. Danielsson clocked a time of 23.59 to land the top spot while Persson was also under the 24-second barrier in 23.96.
Women’s 50 Back – Semifinal
Hansson once again fired off the fastest time, shaving a hair from her quarterfinal race to check in at 27.36. Runner-up thus far Hegmegi also dropped from the previous round, hitting 29.48 as the only other competitor under the 30-second barrier. We’ll see them face off in the final battle.
Women’s 50 Breast – Quarterfinal
Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte is one of just a handful of non-Swedes competing at this invitational and the Olympic medalist made her presence known in this 50m breast.
Meilutyte punched a time of 30.03 to warm up, with Sophie Hansson about half a second behind in 30.50.
Men’s 50 Breast – Quarterfinal
The men’s 50m breast was on the subdued side, with just two competitors clearing the 30-second barrier.
Storell led the way in 28.06 followed by Hoff who punched 29.66.
Women’s 50 Free – Quarterfinal
Sjostrom was at it again, dominating the quarterfinals of the women’s 50m free. The reigning Olympic champion in this event from Paris, Sjostrom registered at time of 23.31. That falls within striking distance of her best-ever outing of 23.00 from the 2017 World Cup.
Men’s 50 Free – Quarterfinal
Eric Falk put up a time of 22.31 as the quickest quarterfinal athlete of the men’s 50m free field. Stefan Nystrand was also under 23, with 22.66 as the runner-up with 2 rounds to go.
Women’s 50 Fly – Final
Sjostrom busted out a final time of 24.71 to top the women’s 50m fly skins. That’s a solid effort for the woman who hasn’t had a break since doubling up in Paris with 50m and 100m freestyle gold.
Men’s 50 Fly – Final
Danielsson was the men’s 50m fly final champion, logging a victorious time of 23.42. That comfortably beat Persson and was just .06 off his lifetime best.
Women’s 50 Back – Final
Hansson was the dominant racer in the final of the women’s 50m back, posting an effort of 27.48.
Women’s 50 Breast – Semifinal
Meilutyte got to the wall first again, capturing the semifinal win in 30.22. She’ll face off against Hansson who was next in 30.42.
Men’s 50 Breast – Semifinal
Women’s 50 Free – Semifinal
Men’s 50 Free – Semifinal
Women’s 50 Breast – Final
Both Meilutyte and Hansson saved their best for last, with the Lithuanian firing off a speedy 29.67 to the Swede’s 30.06.
Men’s 50 Breast – Final
Storell produced a time of 28.15 to beat Hoff in this men’s 50m breast head-to-head. Storell’s top time came in the first round where scored 28.06 while Hoff’s final performance represented his quickest of the day.
Women’s 50 Free – Final
Speedy Sjostrom did it again, adding the 50m free skins title to the 50m fly. After multiple rounds of rapid-fire racing in both events over the course of the session, Sjostrom hit the wall in 23.59 to get the job done for gold. Runner-up Junevik touched in 24.47.
Men’s 50 Free – Final
The last event of the day saw Persson clock a time of 22.26, grabbing 50m free gold ahead of Eric Falk who settled for runner-up status in 22.48.
Really suprised our American sprint specialist Mandrew didn’t go to this.
How is a LCM 24.43 50 Fly even possible
She has been close (but not super close 24.60-2017, 24.63-2024, 24.69-2015) to that time after that as well, so I guess it possible somehow, don’t ask me how.
I’m fairly certain it was outside and wind assisted which is why she hasn’t come that close to it in years
She did 24,6 just in February of this year so to say she hasn’t come close is a bit of an overstatement
Lol wind in swimming? What?
Maybe id believe this, somewhat, for a swimmer who wasn’t as iconic as Sjostrom. But no, sweetie, it’s just that she’s one of the best swimmers, ever.
Also, she didn’t breathe the entire 50.
She broke the WR with a 24.43 by pure discipline. Not wind. gtfo.
Wind assisted
And downhill. 🤣
Did every swimmer in the field destroy their best time? Nope. Get outta here with that.
You can see the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDK5bDWdSzk . Indeed it appears to be a little windy (look e.g. at the patio umbrellas behind the starting blocks). The pool in Rio that host the Maria Lenk Trophy swim meet has also been windy (was it Jeanette Ottesen that swam really fast there one year?) on occasions.
Only one woman in history ever under 25 seconds in LCM 50 Fly.
There is no dominance in a single event that comes even remotely close to that. Only Peaty’s in the 100 Breast but that was before Kamminga and Qin broke 58.
Of course, you also have the lady GOAT in the 800 and 1500, but pointwise it’s actually a lower gap than Sarah and Peaty, I have seen an article doing the math on that.
On another topic, having watched the WR video again, have to say that was a really shady start by Sarah
Why would you set up a meet in Skins format if one wishes to break a World Record?
this was my initial reaction as well. I suppose if SS can use the earlier rounds as a warmup could be OK
She personally says that she needs to swim some 50s before comming in fastest shape.
because Sarah likes that format
yes, mare nostrum has this format and she regularly swims well there
I was thinking the same thing
I wish there were more entries and that the meet had been promoted more earlier in the spring.
Lars Frölander and Stefan Nystrand !!
Lars Frolander did 25.51 for the 50m Fly as a 50-year-old, a little of the 24.96 Masters World Record.
I saw the name Lars Frolander before I read the narrative and I thought to myself, “That can’t be the same Lars Frolander from my era; probably his son or a young guy named for him.” But wow, great to see he’s still blazing down the pool at age 50.
I mean the guy had crazy longevity in his career – he, Therese and Sarah all give off immortal scandi vibes
And a 44-year old Emma Igelstrom (33.79 in the 50 breaststroke).