Olympic champion Sarah Sjostrom has confirmed that she intends to race the 100 freestyle individually at the Paris Olympic Games. In an interview with Reuters from the Swedish team’s hotel in Eskilstuna, Sweden, she confirmed that she would race both the 100 free and the 50 freestyle individually.
“I didn’t know there was two days’ rest after the 100m free final and before the 50 free started, so that obviously made me think about the decision I took before to only swim the 50,” Sjostrom said.
“But since I have two days recovery between those events, it really opened up the opportunity to do both.”
The Tokyo schedule had the final of the 100 free on the morning of the heats of the 50 free, with semifinals a day later and finals the day after that. In Paris, though, prelims and semifinals of the 100 free will be on Tuesday, July 30th and finals will be on Wednesday, July 31st. Sjostrom will then have two days off before the heats of the 50 free on Saturday, August 3rd – the same day as the heats of the 400 medley relay.
Sjostrom, 30, is a four-time World Champion in the 50 free, but her best finishes in long course in the 100 are four World Championship silver medals (including as recently as 2022) and an Olympic bronze medal in Rio in 2016.
Sjostrom finished 5th in the 100 free at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after breaking her elbow earlier that year. She took 2nd in the 50 free.
Earlier this year, Sjostrom said that she would not swim the 100 free at the Olympics; but earlier in July she wound up entering the race, saying that she was considering the 100 in addition to the 50.
It now seems that she has confirmed the intention to try the 100.
At the Sette Colli Trophy in late June, Sjostrom swam 52.57 in the 100 free. That was her best time outside of a World Championship meet since 2017, and the 11th-best time of her career. She is the current World Record holder in the 100 long course meter free with a 51.71 that she set at the 2017 World Championships. The next-fastest performer in that category who will compete in Paris is Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who swam 52.02 last October.
It’s a bit controversial:
“…but her best finishes in long course in the 100 are four World Championship silver medals…”
“She is the current World Record holder in the 100 long course meter free with a 51.71 that she set at the 2017 World Championships.”
Why is that controversial? She broke the WR in a relay leadoff and has never been close again
Has anyone else been close? She beat WR as a 15-year-old and most recently as a 30-year-old. Think when she is going to beat her PB, she has to beat the WR. How many swimmers have it like that? Yeaaa just dose whit own WR…
2016 Olympics – bronze
2020 Olympics – 5th (WR holder in the event)
2024 – ?
She was recovering from a serious injury in the lead-up to Tokyo.
Guess I am including her in my Pick’ ems then
Did not realize that Sette Colli swim was her fastest untapered swim since the 2017 WR. Hoping she can get back near the 52 mark, that should be enough for a medal.
Imagiene no one’s been talking about her for the first part of the year then she decides to swim it and wins in a WR would be wild to see it so think she’s definitely capable of getting back under 52.
Glad to see SS swim the 1free.
Regardless of the outcome, she brings a lot of energy/excitement to a race.
Yay!
Well, 💙🥇💚💛🥈🥉
Sarah will be a solid 52.2-52.3. That could be enough to win gold in a slow race or could be off the podium in a fast race. But either way it puts more pressure on the favourites now.