Three-time Swedish Olympian and multiple-time world and European Champion Sophie Hansson announced that she is taking a break from swimming and will not compete at the upcoming European Championships in Paris this summer.
In an interview with Dagens Nyheter, Hansson opens up about how her motivation is not where she wants it to be, but that a break from the sport could be what she needs to get back to peak competitive form.
“I have felt that the motivation is not where I want it to be… By taking half a step back, my hope is that I will come back hungrier and stronger than I have ever been,” Hansson told Dagens Nyheter. “It’s a sport that demands a lot, and in addition to the three weeks off that you’ve had after the summer championships, it’s been going on for a year after year.”
Hansson explains that despite the challenges she has faced over the last few years, she has seen improvements over the last year, which also comes with a price of its own.
” It has certainly gotten better in the last year, which has also meant that I have been able to perform better , but I can see that it has eaten away at my motivation,” Hansson said. “Even though I have found solutions and alternatives that make it work, I still haven’t been able to do exactly what I want to do. And when you want to push boundaries and take a step forward, it has eaten away at me.”
The decision to step away from the sport was not an easy one for the Swedish breaststroker, who shared that the thought of a break was “a little scary at first.”
“Although, to be completely honest, just the thought of it was a little scary at first, but the longer time went by, the more I realized that both my body and my brain needed rest.”
Hansson had a strong showing at last year’s European Championships, finishing 5th in the 50 breaststroke (29.58) and 9th in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.86), while also contributing to several Swedish relays. After that productive outing, Hansson said that it threw a bit of a wrench in her potential plans to take a step back.
“Because it went well, I got that push and motivation that I think all athletes constantly want to achieve. At the same time, I know that when you stand there on the podium, your body is filled with endorphins. Then you don’t think about what it takes to get there,” Hansson said in a report from Dagens Nyheter. But once I got home, thought through everything in peace and quiet, and made my decision, I could feel that it was nice to bring a positive feeling with me into this break.”
Though she did not give an exact date for her return, she did give a rough timeframe, looking to return to her training group in the upcoming fall, meaning she will not be competing in the European Championships.
“No, then I won’t be ready [for the European Championships]. Unless they suddenly decide it’s okay to swim 25 meters breaststroke.” Hansson said.
“I know I have more to give as a swimmer, and when I’m back I want to have used these months in the best way so that I’m ready to bring it out then.”
