The Swedish Swimming Federation (Svensk Simidrott) held its annual awards gala at the Clarion Hotel in Stockholm on Saturday, January 20.
Sarah Sjostrom was named the Swimmer of the Year for the 12th time in her career. She previously won every award from 2012 through 2022 (no award was given in 2020) and in 2008.
While the 30-year-old has shifted away from the 100 butterfly that made her famous, she showed no signs in 2023 of slowing down with her full focus now on the sprint freestyles. In July at the World Championships, she swam 23.61 in the 50 freestyle in long course to break the World Record.
She also won gold in the 50 fly, her 6th World Championship (5th in long course) in that event).
In total, Sweden’s most decorated swimmer in history is the owner of 4 Olympic medals (1 gold), 22 long course World Championship medals (12 gold), 11 short course World Championship medals (6 gold), and 29 European Championships.
Her 50 free also earned the individual Performance of the Year award and now owns 11 total awards.
She also was named the Swedish Female Athlete of the Year for the 6th time across all sports.
“What an honor, I don’t have room for more of these anymore,” Sjostrom said with a laugh. “Now you can stop.”
Other Nominees
Women:
- Tova Alexandersson – Orientation / Orienteering
- Isabelle Haak – Volleyball
- Sandra Naslund – Ski-cross
Men:
- Armand Duplantis – Track & Field – Pole Vault (WINNER)
- Daniel Stahl – Track & Field – Discuss
- Henrik Von Eckermann – Equestrian
- Sebastian Samuelsson – Biathlon
Other award winners include Pernilla Lindberg in para-swimming, and Olivia Klint Ipsa as the Rising Star of the Year for the countries best young swimmer. She won silver medals in the 200 breast (2:26.20), 100 breast (1:07.26), and a bronze in the 50 breast (31.23) at the European Junior Championships in July.
2023 Swedish Swimming Award Winners
- Swimmer of the Year – Sarah Sjöström, Södertörns SS
- Paraswimmer of the Year – Pernilla Lindberg, SO2
- Artistic Swimmer of the Year – Sandra Freund, SK Neptun
- Diver of the Year – Emilia Nilsson Garip, Malmö KK
- Water Polo Player of the Year – Louise Hazell, Järfälla Water Polo
- Masters of the Year – Anette Philipsson, LASS Linköping
- Open Water Swimmer of the Year – Victor Johansson, Jönköping SS
- Shooting Star of the Year – Olivia Klint Ipsa, swimming, Kristianstad
- SLS
- Coach of the Year – Pär Berg, Diving Malmö KK
- Swimming Sports Club of the Year – Simklubben Neptun
- Performance of the Year – Sarah Sjöström, Södertörns SS
- Spirit of the Year – Bengt Lidh, Järfälla Water Polo
She can probably win this consecutively until she’s 40
Not Female Athlete of the Year, more difficult to answer with regards to Swimmer of the Year, esp since there is not a Female & Male category.
Sarah won the Nation Female Athlete of the Year award for Sweden for the 6th time (from all summer and winter sports, individual or team sports).
The male athlete of the year was Armand Duplantis.
Queen!
Time to go ahead and name the award after her….
How has she only won 6 lol, feel like she could have won it basically every year since 2009
I had the same thought while writing it, but then I remembered how flipping long Therese Alshammar swam for, and so Sarah lost a few to her (she was the FINA swimmer of the year in 2010, won a World Championship in 2011 while Sarah won no medals that year).
But then I started looking, and I must have found an out of date source. Simma.nu, which co-produces the award, shows 12 wins. Updating now.
Now I get it. 6th time she’s been “Athlete of the Year,” 12th time “Swimmer of the Year.”