Sarah Sjostrom is one of the most complete and versatile swimmers of the moment. The Swedish star raced this weekend at the FINA Champions Swim Series in Budapest, where she grabbed 5 individual golds and one silver in relays.
Sjostrom won at day 1 in Budapest the 100 butterfly (56.78) and 100 freestyle (53.03) and at day 2 the 50 freestyle (23.97), 50 butterfly (25.32) and 200 freestyle (1:56.58). Each victory is paid 10,000$, therefore the olympic champion earned in Budapest a total of 53,000$ and currently leads the money table of the whole Champions Series with 104,000$ so far.
The Swede races usually the 50/100 butterfly and 50/100 freestyle in major competitions, being the last time she raced the 200 free at the 2016 Olympics, where she grabbed silver in a time of 1:54.08. After the Olympics, Sjostrom announced she would not swim the 200 free again.
Sjostrom after winning 100 fly gold at the FINA Champions Serie Budapest. By Adrian Mancebo/SwimSwam
However, the 25-year-old has been consistently racing the event this season. She swam the 200 free in April at the Helsinki Swim meet putting an effort of 1:55.44, and at the Swim Open Stockholm clocking a season best of 1:55.39. Yesterday she managed to grab her 3rd victory of the evening in a massive effort of 1:56.58.
When asked if she will include the 200 free in her schedule for the World Championships, she answered: “Probably not, it’s already a very busy schedule for me already with the 100 fly, 100 free and also the 50 free and 50 fly, so I need some days for recovery, I am not 15 anymore so it’s a little difficult for me to do too many events.”
Regarding the event in which she became Olympic champion and is 4-time world champion, the 100 butterfly, the speedster added: “I know I can swim better and faster than I do now, I will be much faster when it really matters. (…) Hopefully at World Champs I will be under 56.”
@OL’ LONGHORN:
About predictive statistics.
Kazan WC (1:54.31 ) . Earlier in the season 1:54.77 (May), 1:55.05 (June), 1:55.75(April), …
Rio OG (1:54.08). Earlier in the season 1:54.34 (July), 1:54.87( March), 1:55.30 (May), 1:55.48 (March)
2019 WC (under 1:55 ?) As of today 1:55.29 (12 April), 1:55.44 (1 April)
Do you see the pattern?
As often happens, I haven’t read in the comments why Sarah has decided to rule out the 200 free in the main events after Rio16: 3 rounds of 200 after the 100 fly and before 100 free, 50 fly and 50 free.
So, draining energy for shorter events in which sharpness and freshness (and a few hundredths) may decide the podium positions.
So, why she now says probably? Perhaps because the competitive field in the 200 free looks a bit easier than last season: Ikee, unfortunately, isn’t there and Ruck isn’t in 2018 shape.
But I think that Sarah won’t swim the 200 free at Worlds19.
That’s exactly the point I was going to make. In 2016 she expects Ledecky to remain dominant at 200. It hasn’t played out that way. She sees Pelligrini win worlds and Ruck win Pan Pacs with times that are hardly intimidating, basically 1:54 mid. Now the young star Ikee is out. Ruck is very impressive but doesn’t win tight races as often as she should. I don’t see how it can be surprising that No turns into Probably Not given all of those changed variables.
If training for 1:54.3 – 1:54.5 doesn’t interfere with preparation for the tough battle in freestyle sprint.
If getting to the 200 final by swimming 1:56.0 can be considered a practice
If Titmus at trial doesn’t swim 1:54.5 and Ledecky with Ruck doesn’t show in-season 1:54.8
Then, of course, why not.
Too many IFs to make the probability of having nothing high and she will end up with the same missed opportunity as in Rio: neither 50 (only 24sec for gold), nor 100 (52.7sec for gold), nor 200 (long distance swimmer)
Titmus , Mckeon top 2 worlds ?
Sleeping on Ledecky and Ruck?
Bonnet?
Now it is “probably” ? Wow, Sarah. Forget it. It won’t be for the money there but for the kill. Or you are thinking that Ledecky’s and Ruck’s doubles make the door wide open and you will oversprint still inexperienced in real race Titmus?
There are no doubts that Sjostrom can prepare herself for the under 1:55 race but it is also true that there’s no education in the second kick of a mule.
There are doubts.
She is already 1:55.29 this season in preparation for Champs Series where she knew not much would be needed for $30000. So what is the base of your doubts? Or you don’t need any base or reason, just are doubting to be on safe side with predictions.
She’s had many of her fastest times when not much was needed. Her 50 fly LCM WR? She won by body lengths. She’s practically always in season form, so a random 1:55 is not predictive of anything.
Out of curiosity, what would be predictive in your opinion? Two random 1:55s? Or 1:54 itself. You do remember that it was done in April that usually is not a “peak” month of the season. Despite she took seriously the competition with Campbell in China and didn’t want to give any gifts to Blume in Budapest I still think that at WC she will be in greater form than now.
Plus some relays?
I don’t think Sophie Hansson swam fast enough to get the medley relay in, maybe they’ll have a 4X1 or a 4×2 but I have a feeling Sarah will end up going after the 200 anyway.
Sophie Hanson has already been selected for World Champs so they will have a relay, despite her not reaching the time
Might be a smart financial move—fairly certain there are world record bonuses and she has potential in 50/100 free/fly, but not 200.
Are there financial bonuses for medals at WC?
Yes, the top 8 get the money.
And I’m probably not going to eat that cake in my fridge I’ve been eyeing all day
Sarah has dropped a heap of weight . The more money ppl get the less they eat .