2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Full Schedule
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Olympic Swimming Entries as of July 12th
Sarah Sjostrom just can’t stay away from the 100 freestyle.
After saying back in February that she would not be swimming the 100 free at the Paris Olympics, the 30-year-old Swedish sprint star appears to have changed her mind as she’s seeded 3rd on the initial entry list released Friday.
Sjostrom did not contest the 100 free individually at the 2023 World Championships, but she led off Sweden’s 4×100 free relay with a time of 52.24 that would have won silver behind Mollie O’Callaghan (52.16). She skipped the 100 free again at the 2024 World Championships, telling Swedish media that she “wanted to go all in” on the 50 free because she felt her door in the 100 free had closed.
Sjostrom’s performance at the Sette Colli Trophy last month may have made her reconsider her Olympic lineup. At the annual meet held in Rome, Italy, she clocked a 52.57 to beat Hong Kong standout Siobhan Haughey (52.78) and take down her meet record from last year (52.64) along the way. Sjostrom ranks 6th in the world this season behind Kate Douglass (52.56), Meg Harris (52.52), O’Callaghan (52.27), Marrit Steenbergen (52.26), and Haughey (52.02). Douglass and Harris are not swimming the 100 free individually in Paris, making Sjostrom a serious threat to disrupt podium favorites Haughey, Steenbergen, and O’Callaghan.
2023-2024 LCM Women 100 Free
HAUGHEY
52.02
| 2 | Marrit STEENBERGEN | NED | 52.26 | 02/16 |
| 3 | Mollie O'CALLAGHAN | AUS | 52.27 | 04/17 |
| 4 | Meg HARRIS | AUS | 52.52 | 06/14 |
| 5 | Kate DOUGLASS | USA | 52.56 | 06/19 |
Just because Sjostrom is signed up for the 100 free doesn’t necessarily mean she will swim the event in Paris. She was entered in the 100 free at the 2024 World Championships before dropping out and saying, “It is easier to sign up first and regret it later.”
Sjostrom made the podium at all five World Championships between 2013-22, picking up silver medals in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022 while also adding a bronze in 2019. She missed the podium by just .16 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 on her way to a 5th-place finish in 52.68.
At the Rio Olympics back in 2016, Sjostrom snagged bronze behind Simone Manuel and Penny Oleksiak‘s tie for gold. At the 2017 World Championships, she broke the world record leading off Sweden’s 4×100 free relay in 51.71 — which still stands to this day — before earning a runner-up finish in 52.31 behind Manuel (52.27) in the individual 100 free.
Sjostrom is the heavy favorite in the 50 free as the top performer in the world this season at 23.69. Only three other women have broken 24 seconds in the event this season: Douglass (23.91), Kasia Wasick (23.95), and Shayna Jack (23.99).
She is entered, but time will tell if she swims or not.
As reported in Sweden media, the decision will be made after 4×100 free on day 1.
So, if Mollie breaks WR leading off the relay and/or the other top sprinters (Haughey, Steenbergen, Jack) register really fast times, she might choose not to swim the individual event. But if her relay lead off time is competitive enough to medal, she will swim it.
Kate Douglass is not swimming 100 Free ? Really?
Mollie, Sjostrom, Haughey, Steenbergen, and Jack all have significantly faster 100 free PB and entry time. Douglas absolutely made the right decision where she can now focus on events where she has a chance at winning gold: 200 breast/IM.
Sjostrom set her first individual WR in 2009. It’s 2024 and she’s still at the top of her game. Incredible athlete
At the 2017 World Championships, Sarah Sjostrom broke 100 free WR leading off Sweden’s 4×100 free relay (Day 1) before finishing second (52.31) behind Manuel (52.27) in individual 100 free (Day 6)
I would love to see the cat and mouse of MOC and Sarah next to each other in the final. Dressel vs Chalmers was a nice contrast of styles, but those two would take that to a further extreme.
Throw in Gretchen Walsh in between where she comes up first in the first 25m.
No
Back half is hopeless
Is she the most accomplished 100 freestyler to never have won a 100 free gold?
Maybe, would have to look back in history
I hesitate to say this, but Cate Campbell would be up there.
Cate Campbell won 100 free gold at 2013 Barcelona World Championship. Sarah never won 100 free in any global meet, not World SC, not World LC, not Olympics.
Ah true, sorry I thought given the context that the comment was just about the Olympics, but you’re very right.
Wow this is a good bit of trivia. I always assumed with her myriad of individual golds at Worlds, there’d be a 100 free in there. Very interesting.
This is a cool bit of trivia. I thought for sure with Sarah’s myriad of individual golds at Worlds, she’d have a 100 free in there. Very interesting.
She had a huge spate of “minor” medals through the 2010s but no gold. Took silver in 2013 to Cate, silver in 2015 to Bronte, bronze in 2016 to Manuel/Oleksiak, silver in 2017 to Manuel, then bronze in 2019 to Manuel/Cate
Imagine getting silver to two different members of the same family. Love Sarah and C1 and C2.
Worlds LCM:
In 2013 and 2015, she had to deal with pre-choked Cate (2013) and prime Bronte (2015).
In 2017, she was strongly favored to win 100 free after breaking WR on the first day. She lost 100 free between Simone Manuel clutch and her probably feeling the pressure.
2019 she had to deal with Simone Manuel peaking.
Worlds SCM:
2014 Doha she lost to peaking Feemke Heemskerk by 0.02s
2021 Abu Dhabi she lost to peaking Siobhan Haughey.
Bronte actually went faster after 2015 (in 2018) and she’s looking really good atm ….and I’m not sure Haughey has reached her peak.
I’m thinking if Bronte got in some of the back half work she missed after nationals she might be faster in Paris.
I think so. Cate Campbell already won 100 free gold in 2013 World Championship.
It’s sort of amazing to realize she’s only 30 given how long she’s been around (first individual WR in ’09).
Don’t care. Mollie’s still gonna win it.
This may come as a shocker to you, but the Olympics aren’t just about the people at the top of the podium.
I can’t upv*te this enough.
Hmmm… surely she is not a lock.