The stands were full already during the trials – and a strong team swimming performance where Sweden made it to the final as the fourth team.
It was the most powerful Olympic start I've ever made, exclaims Sarah Sjöström.
The Paris La Defense Arena was filled despite it being a trial heat, with 15,000 spectators.
And they kept going, especially when France swam.
They had the lane next to the Swedish women in the 4x100 meter freestyle trials.
This is the sickest Olympic arena and trial heat I've ever swum. The atmosphere and everything was just totally crazy, says Michelle Coleman who swam the starting stretch in 53.92.
In the Olympics in Tokyo three years ago, the stands were empty due to the pandemic.
Fast by Sjöström
Sarah Sjöström stormed forward on 51.99. Only Emma McKeon, Australia, had a faster stretch with 51.94.
It was really good, it goes by itself when you relax. I did it well, says Sjöström, the gold hope who swims both 50 and 100 meter freestyle individually.
Sara Junevik had 54.09 and Olympic debutant Sofia Åstedt 54.35.
This gave Sweden a total time of 3.34,35, which meant fourth place.
Favorites Australia (3.31,57), USA (3.33,29), and China (3.34,31) took the top three spots.
Even Canada, silver in Tokyo, is in the fight. They were sixth in the trials.
The favorite nations will sharpen their teams further for Saturday evening's final.
Sweden will substitute in Louise Hansson, likely in place of Åstedt.
"Just go all in"
The Swedish women, fifth in the World Championship last year, are right behind.
We know what we have to give. The final was the first step, now it's just about going "all in", says Junevik.
Sweden has not taken an Olympic medal in team swimming since 2000 when the freestyle women took bronze in Sydney. The final starts at 21.34.
Sweden had a men's team in the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.
The quartet Robin Hanson (49,09), Björn Seeliger (48,61), Elias Persson (48,71), and Isak Eliasson (49,30) finished next to last on 15th place with 3.15,71.
The Swedes had qualified as 16th and last team to the Olympics.
It feels like it's my performance that's why we're not where we want to be today. I apologized to the others when I got out of the pool, says a disappointed Eliasson.
