Sarah Sjostrom Will Not Swim the 100 Fly at World Champs This Year

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman HodgesGarrett McCaffrey, and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with world record holder Sarah Sjostrom while she was at the arena photoshoot in Marseille, France. The 14x World champion spoke about a recent 2-week training camp, being with arena for over a decade, and choosing to skip the 100 fly individually at this year’s world championships.

For the World Champs in Budapest, Sjostrom told SwimSwam that instead, she’ll focus on the 50 fly, 50 free, and 100 free. Sjostrom is the World Record holder in the 100 fly, and at her peak was untouchable in the event. She has an Olympic gold medal and 4 long course World Championship gold medals in the event.

She hasn’t been sub-56 seconds in the event since the 2017 World Championships, though, and with four other women going 55s in 2021 (Maggie MacNeil, Zhang Yufei, Torri Huske, and Emma McKeon), that is becoming the new standard for global medals.

2020-2021 LCM Women 100 Fly

2Zhang
Yufei
CHN55.6209/29
3Torri
Huske
USA55.6606/14
4Emma
McKeon
AUS55.7207/25
5Marie
Wattel
FRA56.1607/24
6Sarah
Sjostrom
SWE56.1807/24
7Claire
Curzan
USA56.2004/10
8Louise
Hansson
SWE56.2207/25
9Kate
Douglass
USA56.5606/14
9Kelsi
Dahlia
USA56.5606/13
View Top 41»
Sjostrom finished 7th at the Olympics in the 100 fly after breaking her elbow earlier in the year. She said last year that her freestyle came along faster than her fly because of the muscle atrophy caused by the injury – she felt more imbalance in the butterfly races than in the freestyle races. That was supported by the fact that she still took silver in the 50 free in 24.07.
Sjostrom’s potential international schedule includes the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest from June 18-25, the European Aquatics Championships in Rome from August 11-2022, and the World Short Course Swimming Championships that are currently scheduled from December 17-22 in Kazan, Russia.

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Splash
2 years ago

Just RE all the medley relay talk. I have a sneaking suspicion Coleman may have retired? She has not posted anything swimming related, she didn’t attend the Swedish camp in Tenerife, and seems to now have a job in marketing. Swimswam can you reach out ??

Meow
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

And she just posted about her new job.

Troyy
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

Why would Sjostrom mention Coleman re medley relay if she is retired? It’d be a big shame if Sweden finally has 4 legs and one retires.

Splash
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Well, she hasn’t officially retired but there are no signs that she is still swimming…

Virtus
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

NOOOO Hanson can swim back now the medley would be fire

Joe
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

Coleman will not compete this season for mental health reasons but will keep training for the 2024 Olympics.

Melanie
2 years ago

A little off topic, but can we get an interview with Charlotte Hook? I feel like she really gets overlooked by Curzan’s success, but she’s so amazing. World SC silver in the 200 Fly, OT’s 3rd place finisher in 200 Fly (nearly made the team), and 3rd time being on National Team. World trials are in a few weeks, and I really think Charlotte could surprise us and get on the team this year

Team Regan
Reply to  Melanie
2 years ago

Very off topic

RMS
Reply to  Melanie
2 years ago

Off topic and Curzan just beat her in the 200 fly.

Jamesabc
Reply to  Melanie
2 years ago

As others have pointed out, this is off topic. But also, why would a person who failed to make the Olympic team be a priority to interview? There are a slew of Olympians, including multiple gold medallists, who haven’t been interviewed by SwimSwam. There are a slew of World Championship winners who haven’t been interviewed. I’m just wondering what is the reasoning behind interviewing a random American who isn’t notable. Why not suggest an interview with Lizzy Dekkers? Or Kim Busch? Or Elena Di Liddo?

Team Regan
Reply to  Jamesabc
2 years ago

This whole conversation is off topic, but to be fare, she does have a worlds silver to her name and is the #2 recruit in C/O 2022. There have been interviews with HS swimmers like Mariah Denigan, Paige McKenna, Claire Tuggle, etc.

Last edited 2 years ago by Team Regan
Grimes/Mcintosh combo is the future
2 years ago

Coleman, did you interview Dressel while in Chicago?
If yes, when is it going to be uploaded?

Spectatorn
2 years ago

Haven’t watched the video and simply confused by this sentence contradicting the title (as well as the paragraph before this sentence)

“For the World Champs in Budapest, Sjostrom told SwimSwam that instead, she’ll focus on the 50 fly, 50 free, and 100 fly.”

Assume it means 100 free instead of 100 fly?

PhillyMark
Reply to  Spectatorn
2 years ago

Her 100 fly in medley relays would be useful

Steve Nolan
Reply to  PhillyMark
2 years ago

They’ve got a Hansson for that.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Steve Nolan
2 years ago

Hansson back, Hansson breast, Sjostrom fly, Coleman free is the fastest combo for Sweden.

Last edited 2 years ago by SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Steve Nolan
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
2 years ago

Probably, but not if Sjostrom can’t swim fly for w/e reason, Coleman-Hanssons-Sjostrom is still pretty good. (And has Louise swam a LCM 100 back recently? After SC WC you’d assume she’s got a big drop coming and why her on back would be the best combo.)

Splash
Reply to  Steve Nolan
2 years ago

Louise went 1:00.04 at Europeans last year. She should easily be 58 high 59 low now.

Hswimmer
2 years ago

200 Free is what she should swim

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
Reply to  Hswimmer
2 years ago

Even if she swims a PB (unlikely with her age and focus towards sprints) she could still miss the podium altogether. Titmus and Haughey have been 1:53 in the past year, Florida Ledecky could get there too. Add in Tang and Yang hovering in the low 1:54s, and goodness knows what McIntosh might do.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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