Olympic Champion Sarah Sjostrom Eyeing SCM World Records At Domestic Meet

2024 SJOSTROM INVITATIONAL

Swimming action at the 2024 Olympic Games may have concluded but Sweden’s golden speedster Sarah Sjostrom is still ready to compete.

30-year-old Sjostrom, 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 on Monday, August 12th in Eriksdalsbadet, 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.

Additional competitors slated to make appearances include Sweden’s Louise Hansson, Sophie Hansson and Elias Persson in addition to Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte and Poland’s Kasia Wasick.

Sjostrom told the Swedish Swimming Federation, “I thought I’d take advantage when I’m in Olympic shape, and then it would be fun to break a world record at home.

Sjostrom owns the Swedish national record in the 50m free with the 23.00 notched during the 2017 World Cup Series. The World Record remains at the 22.93 retired Dutch Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo put on the books that same year.

As for the SCM 50 fly, Sweden’s 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.

Specifically regarding that latter event, Sjostrom said, “I think it’s one of the oldest records, it says something about how good that time is. I think there are more people who are eager to try to beat it.”

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.”

In This Story

26
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

26 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
A new day
1 day ago

Go Sarah!! And Swimswam, please share with us the results after the Meet next week. Thanks in advance.

Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
2 days ago

Great business idea. Have a company sponsor a 2-3 day meet after the 2028 Olympics. Either do SCY or SCM. Go for records. Offer athletes $10k for a win and $20k for a record.

Love how Sarah is supporting the sport before taking time for herself

I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
2 days ago

I need Sjostrom and G. Walsh to go to short course worlds this year and completely dominate

Doe
Reply to  I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
2 days ago

And Marchand!

SwimCoach
2 days ago

I would love to see Gretchen Walsh participate in this meet.

Dan
2 days ago

This might be her last or one of her last meets of 2024 as she will take a little break for her wedding etc. Nothing is set in stone other than that she will take a little break but still be active (running, maybe a little swimming, gym, and some other things)

RealSlimThomas
2 days ago

I wish more people would do this if I’m being honest. Very cool.

Khase Calisz
Reply to  RealSlimThomas
2 days ago

Yea especially considering slow pools, covid, and mistaper at the Olympics. Giving favored athletes who underperformed a second chance. Kind of like Carson and Shaine at Speedo sectionals.

Observer
2 days ago

Might be the only swimmer ever to be faster at the 50 LCM fly than the 50 SCM fly

Guimaraes Cayley
2 days ago

She is in excellent olympic shape. She should try the 50 free LCM – she was so close in Paris.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

Read More »