Swedish sprinter Therese Alshammar, who was supposedly set to race today along with a small contingent of Swedish swimmers at the Austin Pro Swim Series meet, was a no show in her two events.
Seeded 48th in the 100 free and 17th in the 100 fly, Alshammar, who holds the SCM world record in the 50 fly, did not race at all.
Alshammar, 38, took a break from swimming after having her son Fred in 2013, but has since been back in the pool with the goal of making the Swedish Olympic team for Rio. She’s pulled out of many a race in recent months as she struggles to find her old form at her current age.
Entered in the 50 free as the 13th seed, we could still see Alshammar in action later on in the meet. Nonetheless, this doesn’t look to be a good sign for the Swede and her Olympic hopes as Rio is just months away.
While she may have made this decision in advance and still swim in the 50s here, this is disappointing news as a swede. The feeling that she won’t overcome all of her back issues this late in her career is growing stronger. I mean, she’s there, she was in camp with the national team, so I there’s gotta be something not right if she’s not able to race a couple of 100s. And the relay is her biggest hope of a Rio birth(Swedish federation have strict rules about top8 individual chances, just qualifying is not enough).
anyone know what googles she is wearing?
Olander stealth magnetic I think 🙂