Sjostrom Scores Breathless 50 Fly Gold In London (Video)

2016 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2

• Monday, May 16th – Sunday, May 22nd
• Prelims: 10:00 AM (London Time) / 5:00 AM (Eastern Time)
• Finals: 6:00 PM (London Time) / 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
• London Aquatics Center, London, UK
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Sweden’s golden girl, Sarah Sjostrom, scored a win in the women’s 50m butterfly just about 10 minutes after racing in the women’s 100m freestyle semi-final. Nevertheless, Sjostrom fired off a swift 24.99 for the gold, all without taking a breath.

As originally reported by Loretta Race:

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.99
• Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) – 25.44
• Fran Halsall (GBR) – 25.48

Two years later, the women’s 50m butterfly podium looks the same as it did in 2014, with Sweden’s Sarah Sjostromleading the field with her 3rd consecutive European Championships gold medal in this event. Clocking the only sub-25-second outing of the field, Sjostrom scored a mighty 24.99 to blow her semi swim of 25.42 out of the water. Her time tonight also improves her previous season-best of 25.15 from the Swedish Open, scoring a new world #1.

Of note, Sjostrom appeared to complete the entire 50 without a breath, which is no easy feat in itself, no less having cranked out a top-5 semi finish in the 100m freestyle not too long ago.

Just under half a second behind was Danish swimmer Jeanette Ottesen, who touched in 25.44 for the silver, repeating her outcome of 2014. Great Britain’s Fran Halsall also got in on the action, claiming her 2nd consecutive bronze in this sprint event, logging a time of 25.48. Both of these women also now move into the world’s top 5 times in this non-Olympic event.

Shout out to Dutch sensation Ranomi Kromowidjojo for also completing the dirty double of the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly as well. She finished 4th in the latter event as the only other swimmer with a 25-second time (25.82).